Red Bull RB4

Launch

The RB4 is the team's second Adrian Newey-designed car; this car has had the help of Geoff Willis whom the team had recruited from Honda in 2007. The car included the Renault R27-2008 engine, the second year the Renault engine had powered the Red Bull team.

The car was launched at the Jerez Circuit on 16 January 2008, the same day the RB4 was taken for its first shakedown laps by driver David Coulthard, Mark Webber got his first taste of the RB4 at the Valencia Circuit on 24 January 2008, who described the car as "encouraging" and "a big step forward".

Technical developments

As all teams had to conform to the new set of 2008 regulations, the RB4 had the new standard electronic control unit, produced by McLaren Electronic Systems, that aims to prevent the use of driver aids such as traction control and engine braking.

At the February 1 test at Barcelona, the RB4 sported a radical new fin-shaped engine cover. This was part of the initial aerodynamic package changes that most teams implemented before the opening round in Australia. Webber drove the RB4 with the "," while Coulthard used a more conventionally shaped RB4.

2008 season

Testing

The RB4 was a contender for "the best of the rest" title in testing for the 2008 season, with both Webber and Coulthard topping the timesheets.

However both drivers had a couple of small incidents, with Coulthard "kissing the wall" between turns 7 and 8 at the Circuit de Catalunya on 19 February 2008, and Webber having some minor kerb damage on the monocoque, which could "not be repaired in time to resume testing" on his first day driving the RB4.

Even considering the setbacks and competitive times, the team and both drivers were making sure but steady progress throughout the 2008 testing season, optimising the RB4 to the new rules and regulations. The team was pleased with the car's performance through the testing season before the season opener in Australia.

Vettel testing RB4

Toro Rosso driver and future Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel had the opportunity of testing the RB4 at the Barcelona test between 18 and 20 February 2008 as Coulthard had a trapped nerve. Vettel tested the car on the 19th, the middle day of testing.

Vettel completed 109 laps, and came in 7th with a time of 1:22.558, the same day Webber came in 17th with a time of 1:23.458 after doing 58 laps. The top driver that day was Lewis Hamilton, in a McLaren-Mercedes, with a time of 1:21.234 after 81 laps completed.

Season

Despite Webber's second-place qualifying in Britain, where Coulthard announced his retirement at the end of the season, Red Bull had a summer of lackluster results, until the Belgian Grand Prix when Webber scored a point for eighth place after starting seventh on the grid. At the following Grand Prix in Italy, Webber moved up to third on the grid, riding with the top teams before spinning and finishing eighth.

In Singapore, Webber and Coulthard failed to qualify for Q3 and set the 13th and 14th fastest times in the session. The Coulthard moved up to seventh and collected the final points of his career, while Webber retired on lap 29 with a gearbox issue. His team Red Bull Racing later claimed that a momentary electrical surge caused by a passing underground tram made the gearbox select two gears at once. The incident occurred in Turn 13. A tram line goes right underneath that section of the race track. These allegations were later denied by the city-state's railway operator. At the following round in Japan, the Webber finished eighth after starting from thirteenth place, while Coulthard, who started eleventh, lost control of his RB4 at the second corner and violently hit the tire barrier.

Sponsorship and livery

When the Red Bull Cola was launched, the brand was advertised on the bargeboards and rear wing in certain races.

In Brazil, Coulthard's RB4 was decorated in the livery of "Wings for Life", a charity dedicated to raising awareness of spinal cord injuries. Coulthard said: "I'm dedicating my last race to the vision of making paraplegia curable." Red Bull received approval from the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, Formula One's governing body, to run Coulthard's car in different colours than his teammate Webber.

Complete Formula One results

(key)

References

References

1. "The Cars".
2. (16 January 2008). "Red Bull launches RB4 in Jerez". GPUpdate.net.
3. (16 January 2008). "Red Bull happy with new car shakedown". GPUpdate.
4. (24 January 2008). "Webber happy with first taste of RB4". GPUpdate.net.
5. "Red Bull tests revolutionary new engine cover". f1technical.net.
6. (3 February 2008). "Webber fastest on final day". GPUpdate.net.
7. "Coulthard tops first day of testing at Jerez". f1technical.net.
8. "Minor damage for Coulthard after kissing the wall". f1technical.net.
9. (24 January 2008). "Red Bull hit by new car kerb damage". GPUpdate.net.
10. (29 February 2008). "Red Bull pleased with car pace and reliability". GPUpdate.net.
11. "Vettel fills in for injured Coulthard". f1technical.net.
12. "Hamilton remains on top". f1technical.net.
13. (2008-10-03). "F1: Stunning circumstances caused Mark Webber's retirement in Singapore {{!}} Car News {{!}} Auto123".
14. (2008-10-10). "Singapore derails RBR 'static' claim.".
15. "DC to run charity livery at finale".