Christian Horner hails Red Bull's 'best winter'

The head of Formula 1's reigning champion team said the creation of the new RB8 - which was revealed online today - had been an exceptionally smooth process.

"This year's car build has gone fantastically well, and I think it's the epitome of continuity... continuity across all areas," said Horner in a video interview released by the team.

"I think we've designed and built this car in a record amount of time, in a ridiculously short amount of time.

"Adrian [Newey] is never famous for his drawings being early, but the design team, the production teams, all the associated departments that go into producing these cars, have delivered, and delivered in a fantastic way.

"We've hit our target of being at the first test so, despite the snow over the latter part of this week, I think we're in great shape for the first test."

Horner feels that the continuity of staff within Red Bull, allied to its run of success, has given the team great momentum that will make it tough for rivals to topple in 2012.

"I think that we've evolved as a team, as a unit," he said.

"I think we have tremendous strength and depth and I think that we've enjoyed great continuity over the last few years.

"As we've evolved and as departments have worked closely with each other you can see, in the detail of the car and the continuity that we've had in our production techniques and our development rate [and] in some of our simulation tools, that [it] all adds up to achieving the kind of team work that we strive for.

"I think we're well set for the season ahead. You can never take anything for granted. We certainly don't underestimate the quality of our opponents, but we're going into 2012 with a lot of determination to keep the two trophies in their cabinets."