Red Bull’s new RB16B Formula 1 car has beꦚen seen on track for the first time during pre-season testing in Bahrain.

Despite launching its car at the e📖nd of February, Red Bull only released two studio shots of its latest challenger for the 2021 season, deciding to withhold images and footage from its filming day shakedown at Silverstone.

But the RB16B made its public track debut for the first💮 time on the opening day of pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit on Friday morni𓆏ng.

Max Verstappen is driving Red Bull’s updated challenger on Frida♊y before new teammate Sergio Perez takes over behind the wheel of the RB16B on Saturday.

The Dutchman currently sits third in the timesheets after the first two hours of pre-season te🌜sting, having clocked a 1m32.565s and completed over 30 laps so far.

Red Bull i🦩s hoping its RB16B - which features a brand new Honda power unit - can help Verstappen and Perez mount a sustained championsh🍎ip challenge to Mercedes this year. 

It has been a disrupted start to testing for reigning world ch﷽amp🦋ions Mercedes, with Valtteri Bottas stuck in the garage after the team discovered a gearshift issue after just a single installation lap.

🌄The German manufacturer has lost over an hour of running while it conducts a gearbox change.

Haas has also been forced to ch♈ange the gearbox in Mick Schumacher’s VF-21 afteꦦr detecting a hydraulic issue which has kept the German sidelined for nearly an hour.

Click here for LIVE updates from the opening day of F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain.