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Red Bull explains camouflage livery

© Getty Images

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Christian Horner has revealed that Red Bull's testing livery was inspired by the helmet Sebastian Vettel ran at last year's Italian Grand Prix.

A World War I battleship in dazzle camouflage © Getty Images

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The new camouflage livery is a striking mixture of black and white stripes, which in theory makes it harder for rivals to see the details of the new RB11. It is a concept first used by the British Admiralty and US Navy in the first and second world wars to help conceal the size, distance and heading of ships from the enemy. It has since been used extensively by road car manufacturers while testing new models.

"The camouflage livery came out of a helmet Sebastian ran last year [at Monza] that was quite fun," Horner explained. "We thought it would be interesting to extend that concept to the rest of the car. Dietrich [Mateschitz, Red Bull boss] liked it when he saw it, and it epitomises Red Bull really that we like to do things a bit differently.

Sebastian Vettel's Monza helmet inspired Red Bull to change its © Sutton Images

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"To see a Red Bull in a different livery is quite striking and it also makes it quite difficult to get detailed photographs of the car at a time of year when we're all trying to be as secretive as we possibly can.

"It's difficult to get detailed shots of the car because it confuses your eyeline, but it obviously had a great reaction."

It has already proved a hit among fans but will not be on the car for the first race in Australia. Horner said Red Bull's followers could look forward to an even better livery at the races (likely to be the team's traditional colours).

"They won't be disappointed because the livery will be even stronger. It's great to do something different, it's been extremely well received.

Laurence Edmondson is deputy editor of ESPNF1

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