Breaking news

Formula 1

Red Bull announces launch date for RB16B

Red Bull will reveal its Formula 1 challenger next week, with the team announcing a February 23 launch for its 2021 car.

Jonathan Noble

Jonathan Noble

Published: Feb 19, 2021, 12:56 PM

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16

The Milton Keynes-based outfit announced the date of the unveiling of its RB16B on social media, but no further details of the event were forthcoming.

 

Red Bull is coming off the back of mixed fortunes in 2020, when some aerodynamic anomalies with its RB16 left drivers Max Verstappen and Alex Albon struggling at times to get fully comfortable with the car.

But the team made good progress over the course of the campaign and enjoyed a morale boosting finish to the season when Verstappen outpaced Mercedes to win the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

The team hopes that stability in the regulations, with much of last year's car carried over, will help it lay the foundation for a better challenge against the dominant Mercedes outfit.

Speaking at the end of last year, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said that the team needed to produce a more consistent car in 2021 after learning lessons from its problems last season.

"I think we've understood what those issues are and I think that, hopefully, that can be further addressed as we go into next year," he said.

"We need a car that performs at a whole variety of circuits, which Mercedes have been very good at producing. That's where we need to be strong next year. We've got to be strong on all types of circuit, particularly with a 23 race calendar."

The team will have a fresh driver line-up for 2021. While Verstappen is staying, he will have a new teammate as Sergio Perez has been drafted in as replacement for Albon.

Red Bull is hoping that the Mexican's experience and speed that he showed in 2020, which included him taking his maiden win at the Sakhir Grand Prix, will boost its own constructors' championship hopes.

The 2021 season will also be Red Bull's last with Honda, with the Japanese manufacturer having decided to pull out of F1 at the end of this season.

Red Bull has just agreed a deal to take over Honda's F1 project though, and will continue to run the engine, rebranded under the moniker of the energy drinks giant, from 2022.

2021 F1 car launches

Team Date Mercedes March 2 Red Bull February 23 McLaren February 15 Aston Martin March 3 Alpine March 2 Ferrari March 10 AlphaTauri February 19 Alfa Romeo February 22  Haas   Williams March 5

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Read also :

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Previous article Albert Park F1 layout changes explained

Next article Netflix reveals release date for season 3 of Drive to Survive

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

More from

Jonathan Noble



Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours

Formula 1

Formula 1

Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours



The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season

Formula 1

Formula 1

The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season



Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress

Formula 1

Formula 1

Australian GP

Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress

More from

Red Bull Racing



Max Verstappen slams “unacceptable” bumps at Austin F1 track: “It's out of control”

Formula 1

Formula 1

United States GP

2 h

Max Verstappen slams “unacceptable” bumps at Austin F1 track: “It's out of control”



Max Verstappen’s words explained: Why Red Bull’s turnaround is so different this time

Formula 1

United States GP

Max Verstappen’s words explained: Why Red Bull’s turnaround is so different this time



Red Bull called Christian Horner to thank him for F1 engine project after maiden win

Formula 1

Formula 1

United States GP

13 h

Red Bull called Christian Horner to thank him for F1 engine project after maiden win

Latest news



Max Verstappen slams “unacceptable” bumps at Austin F1 track: “It's out of control”

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

United States GP

2 h

Max Verstappen slams “unacceptable” bumps at Austin F1 track: “It's out of control”



Kimi Antonelli ready to "finish the job" as first F1 title chance beckons at US GP

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

United States GP

3 h

Kimi Antonelli ready to "finish the job" as first F1 title chance beckons at US GP



How to watch NASCAR at Talladega II: Weekend schedule, start time, entry list, TV

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Talladega II

3 h

How to watch NASCAR at Talladega II: Weekend schedule, start time, entry list, TV



Peterson Racing addresses online abuse after parting ways with Austin Green

NASCAR O'Reilly

NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly

Talladega II

3 h

Peterson Racing addresses online abuse after parting ways with Austin Green

Feature

Discover prime content



Max Verstappen’s words explained: Why Red Bull’s turnaround is so different this time

Formula 1

United States GP

By Ronald Vording

Max Verstappen’s words explained: Why Red Bull’s turnaround is so different this time



Mission control: Inside the FIA and F1's latest answer to football's VAR

Formula 1

United States GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

Mission control: Inside the FIA and F1's latest answer to football's VAR



How Kimi Antonelli levelled up his character to be F1 2026's world champion-elect

Formula 1

United States GP

By Filip Cleeren

How Kimi Antonelli levelled up his character to be F1 2026's world champion-elect



Why Oscar Piastri has struggled to show his best with this year's McLaren MCL40

Formula 1

By Jake Boxall-Legge

Why Oscar Piastri has struggled to show his best with this year's McLaren MCL40

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts

Subscribe