Sergio Perez, Red Bull, Silverstone, 2021

Perez first to drive new Red Bull RB16B at Silverstone

2021 F1 season

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Red Bull’s new RB16B ran for the first time today in the hands of Sergio Perez, who has joined the team for the 2021 F1 season.

However the team has not yet issued any images of the new car in action at Silverstone. Perez drove the car on the short, National loop at the venue which will hold the British Grand Prix in July.

“Driving a new car is always special – for the driver and also for the team,” said Perez. “They have been working so hard through the winter, so to finally take the car on track, it’s quite an emotional day.

“I think there is a lot of potential. The conditions were not great but it was nice to get a feeling for the car. It’s pretty exciting. Earlier this week I drove the RB15 but today I could feel a step in overall grip and top speed.”

Perez’s team mate Max Verstappen also had his first run in the new car. Verstappen and his former team mate Alexander Albon, who has become Red Bull’s reserve driver following Perez’s arrival, did further laps in an RB15, which the team campaigned in 2019.

Red Bull revealed its new RB16B for the 2021 F1 season yesterday. Perez had his first run for the team yesterday in an RB15 on a very wet track, but the trio enjoyed much drier conditions on Wednesday.

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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7 comments on “Perez first to drive new Red Bull RB16B at Silverstone”

  1. RB looks like a very solid team.

    Now let’s just hope the Honda engine is up to the task

    1. Exactly what I was thinking, can’t wait for the season to begin!

  2. The running took place on either the International configuration or the full GP one actually.
    The day before yesterday also featured running, not only yesterday, although only Perez drove. All three yesterday.
    https://youtu.be/dKUHDJpPfR4
    Did Albon really drive the RB15 (and Perez on Tuesday)? I struggle to tell the difference on the front end. What would be the point in not allowing Albon to drive this year’s version of the RB16 even once? The other two will, of course, drive it in the races, but he won’t at all unless something happens that requires substituting, so weird if he doesn’t get an opportunity to try the car out even on a filming day.

    1. If the max page is correct all three drove tuesday the RB15 for the feeling (for Perez learning) and yesterday (wednesday) all three drove the RB16B which Max and Perez are shown on video, Albon i didn’t saw video of him driving.

    2. this is the whole video on youtube:

    3. Here is a link to an article from Motorsport which claims all the photos and videos showing a complete car are of the RB15 not the 16B.
      https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/red-bulls-missing-rb16b-fuels-tech-secret-intrigue/5486689/?ic_source=home-page-widget&ic_medium=widget&ic_campaign=widget-1

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