Red Bull F1 unveils 2018 RB14 19 | 02 | 2018

    RED BULL RACING has unveiled its 2018 Formula 1 race car. Intriguingly, the new RB14 has been unveiled with a striking blue camouflage-style livery instead of the team's familiar racing colours. (Related: Aston Martin confirms Red Bull F1 deal)

    Red Bull has stressed its full race livery won’t be revealed until pre-season testing at Barcelona, and that what we see here is a "special edition" livery. (Related: Verstappen wins as Hamilton takes title)

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    Most noticeably, Aston Martin — which is now Red Bull's title sponsor, having decided to step up its involvement in F1 — has prominent branding on the temporary livery. Both race cars will be driven by  Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo. The duo won three grands prix last season. (Related: Scots Aston Martin dealer is World No1)

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    Aussie Ricciardo will shakedown the RB14 — which is powered by a TAG Heuer-branded Renault V6 turbo hybrid — at a wet Silverstone today using one of the team's allocation of 'filming days'.

    "The pattern of the last few years has been to launch 'aggressively late'," Red Bull said. "This has allowed the design department the maximum amount of time to add goodness to the car before the cut-off point at which the design is frozen and a launch car produced.

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    "It's been not uncommon to have the car finished, fired up for the first time and shipped to Spain for the start of testing all on the same day.

    "It serves a purpose, but you wouldn't do it if you didn't have to, and this year we didn't have to.

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    "It's preferable to finish the car early and deal with any snags now, when the car is on a track a short drive from the factory, rather than using up one of our eight ultra-precious test days doing the same at the Circuit de Catalunya."

    Related: Aston Martin Vanquish S Ultimate

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    Jim McGill

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