Red Bull to launch RB16B 2021 F1 challenger next week

Red Bull will become the fourth team to launch its 2021 Formula 1 car when it takes the wraps off its RB16B next week on Tuesday 23 February.

The energy-drink-backed team has announced an unveiling date of 23 February for its latest F1 challenger, which will be driven by Max Verstappen and new signing Sergio Perez, who has been brought in to replace Alex Albon.

Verstappen won two races in 2020 but Red Bull ultimately once again failed in its bid to challenge Mercedes for the world championship.

The Milton Keynes-based squad hopes its upgraded RB16B - which it believes has addressed the issues of its predecessor - will enable the team to achieve its goal of mounting a greater challenge to Mercedes with a strengthened driver line-up.

Red Bull ended up 254 points adrift of Mercedes as it finished runner-up in the 2020 constructors’ championship.

2021 will mark the final year of Red Bull’s partnership with Honda before the Japanese manufacturer leaves the sport at the end of the year, though it recently announced a deal had been reached to take over Honda’s engine technology from 2022.

Red Bull’s sister team, AlphaTauri, revealed its AT02 car on Friday morning, becoming the second team to launch its car for the upcoming 2021 F1 season, which begins on 28 March.

Alfa Romeo will be the third team to unveil its latest F1 challenger before Red Bull presents its RB16B to the world on Tuesday.

SEE ALSO: All the F1 2021 dates - Pre-season testing, race calendar and car launches

Oh to be 16 again... It's a date #ChargeOn pic.twitter.com/V2EkAN9luj

— Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) February 19, 2021