by The Milton Keynes-based team held the launch of the RB19 in New York earlier this month, but only revealed new fluids on an updated version of last season’s RB18.
The new car then completed a private shakedown test at Silverstone, but Red Bull restricted the release of images from the day of publicity.
Only vague videos of the RB19 were distributed, and spy footage of the car from onlookers at the circuit was not clear enough to reveal too many details about the car.
But as F1 testing began at the Bahrain circuit on Thursday morning, the new RB19 finally emerged shortly before the start of the run.
The car has very refined aerodynamics, with clear changes to the shape of the nose, sidewalls and engine cover – including an airbox.
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Photo by: Adam Cooper
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The RB19 is a much bigger evolution of the 2022 car compared to the step taken by other teams.
It has a wider nose tip, but is still attached to the second front wing element like the RB18.
The fenders and engine cover retain last year’s DNA but have been refined.
The bodywork has been pulled in closer to create a much deeper undercut for the cage, which extends back under the central section towards the bottom of the underwash ramp.
The floor edge architecture has been completely rewritten, with several interestingly shaped flaps ahead of an elongated edge wing, which extends with the floor ahead of the rear tire.
Red Bull is coming into 2023 as the reigning world champion squad, having dominated last year’s title battle.
Max Verstappen won his second crown in a row, and Red Bull won its first constructors’ championship in the turbo-hybrid era. The last success came as far back as 2013.
Despite having the best car last season, Red Bull did not have a completely smooth winter, with the team sanctioned for breaching the 2021 cost cap.
He was fined $7 million and had his air test allowance cut by 10 percent for his overspending.
While rivals believe that the change will have only a minimal impact, Red Bull itself fears that it could seriously hurt.
Speaking at the launch about the potential downside of the restriction, Team Boss Christian Horner said: “We’re doing the best we can with what we’ve got.
“The team had to adapt to the handicap we have. They’ve done a great job of doing that.
“Is it enough? We will find out in a few weeks (in the Bahrain test and the first round of the season) as a starting point.
“It’s definitely a significant handicap that we’ve had for most of the year.
There is no change in the game at Red Bull, with Sergio Perez still in the squad alongside Verstappen.
