Red Bull using a new spec of ExxonMobil F1 fuel in Hungary

The team has to commission its own dyno running at Renault's Viry-Chatillon base to prove any new ExxonMobil fuels, as the works team and McLaren both use BP Castrol products and therefore most dyno running is devoted to their requirements.

Those constraints mean that fuel developments do not necessarily reach the track as quickly as Red Bull would ideally like, so it has been eagerly awaiting this step.

"This will be, I think, the first in-season step of fuel," team principal Christian Horner told Autosport.

"The guys at Exxon have been working very hard on developing the fuels.

"Obviously fuel plays such an important role in F1 these days, so it's great to introducing another candidate here this weekend.

"Inevitably Viry's focus is mainly around development with their own fuel supplier.

"We're lucky to be working with a partner with the capabilities of Exxon, and of course when you're in a customer relationship it's different to that of being a works relationship.

"But we've now had the opportunity to introduce a new fuel this weekend, and hopefully it will bring some added performance."

When asked if it was a worthwhile step, Horner said: "We'll see. Certainly so far the feedback has been encouraging."