Horner: We're excited about the year ahead

Red Bull F1 team chief Chritian Horner is bullish about his team's prospects ahead of the 2017 season, where a host of new rules should play in their favour while Renault ramp up their efforts on the engine front.

Horner said in a video interview released by the team, "It's a brand new engine [TAG Heuer badged Renault] for this year... a change in philosophy."

"[Renault] have had a big winter and we're hoping for a step in performance. If that's delivered then hopefully we can really be a challenger team this year and give the Mercedes and Ferraris a hard time."

"Mercedes for sure they are the world champions - triple world champions - they are the team to beat. They have set the bar pretty high but that's what we're aspiring to."

"Hopefully we can be a real challenger team. I think the driver line-up we have is fantastic, we've had great stability in the team and we're excited about the year ahead."

Red Bull will unveil the RB13 on 26 February, the eve of the first preseason test in Barcelona.