2016 paintjob to be revealed, but new car won't be present
Wednesday 17 February 2016 22:24, UK
Former world champions Red Bull will stage their 2016 launch in London on Wednesday, but what can we expect to see from the event?
The team will have key personnel in attendance with team principal Christian Horner and drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat present to speak to the media about the season ahead.
However, what won't be there is the 2016 car. Instead, the team will use an old car painted in their 2016 livery to show off their new design.
This is likely to be the team's only launch event this year, with the former world champions expected to hit the track in Barcelona without an official photocall for the RB12 on February 22.
Why launch an old car with a new look?
Red Bull caused a stir last Febuary with a camouflage livery used to protect their car's design secrets. Using an old car means Red Bull can keep their new design under wraps and hidden from their rivals until testing. Aerodynamics is one of the team's strengths and they will be wary of giving away any potential secrets they have found over the winter.
Instead, the pictures of the new livery that will be splashed across media outlets will be of a car that has already been heavily photographed. The team and their new sponsors will still receive publicity, but no aero or packaging secrets will have been disclosed.
Is it normal for a team to be secretive about their design?
Even in the days of spectacular, lavish launches, the car that would be pushed out onto the stage would never be the same as the one that hit the track for testing, or indeed the first race of the season.
The basics of the car may have been there, and any dramatic changes to the shape would be obvious, but the front wing would be simplified - as would the aero around the rear of the car.
The same is true of the show cars put on stands at motorsport shows around the world. With millions spent chasing a fraction of a second in lap time, teams aren't going to let anyone with a smartphone snap a close-up picture of their designs.
So what will we learn next week?
First and foremost we will see the team's on-track livery for 2016. It is likely to be significantly different from recent seasons with the loss of Infiniti branding from the sidepods and Tag Heuer branding replacing Renault.
The team will also be launching a new range of team-wear and replica clothing for fans as they partner up with Puma.
It will also be an opportunity for the media to quiz the team on their expectations for the forthcoming season and what we can expect from their engine after a difficult 2015.
The first Barcelona test starts on Monday February 22 and the Sky Sports F1 Digital team will be providing live commentary from dawn until dusk on all four days of both Barcelona tests while Sky Sports News HQ will also deliver live updates from trackside.
