LEAD: Red Bull unveil RB8 as Vettel hopes for third F1 title

By Christian Hollmann Feb 6, 2012, 16:18 GMT

Berlin - Sebastian Vettel will attempt a third straight Formula One world title in a Red Bull car that like all others has a distinct stepped nose, but doesn't expect to dominate as in 2011.

The world champion team unveiled the RB8 on its website on Monday, a day ahead of the start of pre-season tests in Jerez, Spain. Mark Webber will be the driver on the first two days before Vettel starts his testing Thursday and Friday.

Three rounds of pre-season testing are scheduled ahead of the March 18 season-opener in Australia.

'We'll always look back to 2011 and think how special it was,' said Vettel. 'It would be wrong to go into this season and expect 2011 to happen again.

'I think it will be very, very tight this year and anything else would be a surprise.'

However, the German is obviously out for another winning season despite the expected stiff opposition expected mainly from Ferrari and McLaren.

'The target is to obviously try to do it again and try to get everything out of ourselves, so we'll see how we get on with the new car, the RB8.

Team principal Christian Horner said that 'our aim is simple: We want to defend both titles.'

Vettel ran away with the title last year, clinching it five races from the end in a commanding showing with 11 season wins and an F1 record 15 pole positions. Red Bull won back-to-back constructors' crowns.

Vettel said that the end of double diffusers and new exhaust system rules would make racing closer.

'Obviously we hope our car is better than all the others but it will be difficult. I think the cars will be fairly similar, and the gaps will be even closer than they have been,' Vettel said.

The RB8 has a stepped nose with a slight curve, not as sharp-edged as the Ferrari unveiled on Friday but also not with the praised curved design McLaren have chosen.

Team designer Adrian Newey admitted the nose was 'slightly ugly looking' and added 'We've tried to style it as best we can, but it's not a feature you would choose to put in were it not for the regulation.'

Vettel said he had waited 'all winter' for getting back out on the track with the new car and hopes to prove Bernie Ecclestone wrong as well as the F1 boss hopes that Vettel won't dominate in similar style as last year.

'I hope he's wrong obviously!' said Vettel.

Vettel said that the team hopes to get in as much mileage as possible during the testing phase to be in best possible shape for the season.

By then he also hopes to have found a nickname for the latest car after driving 'Kinky Kylie' (2011), 'Randy Mary' (2010) and 'Kate's Dirty Sister' (2009).

'No name yet! To be honest, last year we found a name I think Wednesday before the first race, so we might be a bit earlier this year, but so far, no names. We have a couple of candidates, hot candidates, but nothing is decided yet!' he said.

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