Red Bull Racing get back on track ahead of season opener

Alex Albon drove the yet-unraced RB16 for the first time in 118 days on Thursday in preparation for the first F1 race of the season next weekend.

Red Bull Racing took to Silverstone for a filming day - a rare opportunity to drive this season's car outside of race weekends. Albon completed 100km as the team got accustomed to the new COVID-19 way of working, with the team wearing PPE and face masks.

“It was good to be back in the car and shake off the dust and get back into it," said Albon afterwards. "I haven’t been in an F1 car for three months but after five or six laps I was right back into it. It’s been a good way to see where I’m at with fitness and I’m happy with it.

"It was also great to see everyone again. I’ve been in regular contact with the guys on my side of the garage since Melbourne, so things haven’t changed too much and it was easy to get that understanding again.

"It was also good for everyone to get used to the new COVID-19 protocols and it’s been pretty seamless. Overall it was a good opportunity to get back in touch with everything and to get back into that racing mindset.”

The first race weekend will get underway on Friday July 3 at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.