February debut for RB5

Launch date for new Red Bull chassis

Last updated: 6th January 2009

February debut for RB5

February launch: Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel

Related links

Teams

Also see

Red Bull have announced that their new car will be launched in February.

The Renault-powered RB5 is set to make its track debut at the Jerez circuit on February 9.

"Our strategic plan has always been to take full advantage of the later start to the 2009 season and we are using the time to ensure we have optimised the car as much as possible, within the regulation changes, to start on the grid in Melbourne," team principal Christian Horner said in a statement.

Sebastian Vettel, who replaced David Coulthard at the end of last season, will in all likelihood be the first to drive the new RB5 as his team-mate Mark Webber is still recovering from a broken leg.

With Force India and Toro Rosso yet to announce their own launch dates, all other F1 teams are unveiling their new cars in January.