Mark Webber vs Lewis Hamilton

Lore & Background

The RB16 and RB16B were powered by Honda's RA620H (2020) and RA621H (2021) power units. The 2021 car won the drivers' title with Max Verstappen, marking the team's first World Championship title in 8 years since Sebastian Vettel won the drivers' title and the team won the constructors' title in 2013. The drivers for 2020 were Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon, with Sergio Pérez taking Albon's place for 2021. Albon became the team's test and reserve driver for the 2021 season. The RB16 made its debut at the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix, while the RB16B made its debut at the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix.

In Their Own Story

The rain lashed against the cockpit of the Red Bull RB9 as Mark Webber gripped the wheel, his eyes scanning the mist for a glimpse of silver. There, emerging from the spray like a ghost from their shared past, was Hamilton's McLaren. A decade of friendship had dissolved into this moment: pure, unadulterated racing aggression. As they approached the hairpin, there were no pleasantries, only the roar of engines and the silent understanding that one would have to yield. Webber held his line, a veteran's instinct overriding any lingering nostalgia, while Hamilton pressed harder, the ghost of their youth driving him forward in the wet.

Reader's Guide

The RB16 featured a narrower nose with two additional inlets at its front, a redesigned barge-board area, smaller side-pod inlets, a large 'cape' element below the nose, raised rear suspension parts, a rear wing with two supporting pillars, and a redesigned front multi-link suspension. For 2021, Red Bull used its development tokens to change the shape of the gearbox casing, allowing it to rearrange the rear suspension and significantly increase rear downforce. The RA621H engine was Honda's biggest change since 2017, with a more compact camshaft layout, different valve angle, shorter cylinder bore spacing, and a smaller engine with a lower centre of gravity.

Did You Know?

• The RB16B became the first non-Mercedes car to win any championship since 2013.
• Honda became the first Japanese and Asian engine supplier world champions of the turbo-hybrid era.
• At the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix, the RB16B wore a red and white livery inspired by Honda's first Formula One race win in 1965.