Webber and Ricciardo launch new Red Bull RB8 and Toro Rosso STR-7 2012 F1 cars

Australia’s two F1 drivers, New South Wales’ Mark Webber and Western Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo, have helped launch their respective new F1 cars for the 2012 season. Webber with Red Bull Racing and Ricciardo with Scuderia Toro Rosso.

Both teams are owned by Red Bull energy drinks and feature the Red Bull branding heavily. However, the Red Bull Racing RB8 car will be powered by a Renault engine while Ricciardo and his Scuderia Toro Rosso STR-7 will be propelled along by a Ferrari powerplant.

Both cars use the new controversial ‘step nose’ design which sees and noticeable step in the nose cone near the front wheels. Scuderia Toro Rosso has admitted its nose cone design is too conservative though and will upgrade it during the middle of the season.

Ricciardo told Autosport.com, “”Everyone I’m sure has faith in their own team but I’ve definitely got it with mine. Seeing the work they have done over the winter, I’ve been in Faenza a few times in January and I know they are very happy with the final product. So now we’ll see what it does on track.”

The 2012 F1 World Championship begins March 16 in Melbourne.

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