Red Bull drivers smiling after positive RB15 shakedown

Both drivers were in good spirits as they took to the track in the striking bespoke testing livery, doing the allowed mileage on their filming day, ahead of next week's testing in Barcelona.

The team reported: "After an intense winter of design and development the RB15 hit the track for the first time today, with Max putting the Team’s first Honda-powered car through its paces for the cameras on a bright but cool filming day at Silverstone."

As has become tradition for the Team, the all-new RB15 made its first appearance clad in a stunning one-off launch livery, a stealthy-looking dark blue colour scheme lit with glowing red chevrons.

And over the course of six runs at the Northamptonshire circuit, the new charger performed faultlessly, with Max getting through 39 laps as the Team performed a battery of systems checks ahead of next week’s first test in Barcelona.

After reluctantly climbing out of the car, Verstappen's first impressions of the RB15 were positive, “I was really excited to jump in the car and as soon as we got going it felt pretty normal. It felt good and we had no problems, so very happy with that. Also, the livery is very beautiful, even though it’s only for today."

“Of course today is a filming day, so there’s a limited amount you can get out of it, but it’s really important to have a day like this, before you go to the official tests. You get a first impression and you see if there any little issues with the car or engine."

"Luckily we didn’t have any and it’s very positive that we had this opportunity. Now we can go testing properly, we’ll see what we can get out of that and we’ll be able to understand the car and the engine a bit better. But so far, so good,” added the 21-year-old.

Verstappen's progress was eagerly followed trackside by new team-mate Pierre Gasly, who’ll get his first taste of the RB15 at next week’s Barcelona test.

“I think the car looks amazing,” he said. “Red Bull always brings some amazing one-off liveries to the launch of a new car and this is definitely one of the best.

“It’s the start of a new story for the Team with Honda and so far it’s gone really well. Now I can’t wait to be in Max’s position next week and to properly feel what the car is like."

"For me, the winter break has felt pretty long – waiting to really get down to work with the Team has been something I’ve been dreaming about – and so I’m really looking forward to getting behind the wheel in Barcelona," added the Frenchman.