Ferrari helping Red Bull, says Smith

The Milton Keynes-based team ran their new Ferrari-powered RB2 for the first time at Silverstone last week and Smith is more than happy with the way the relationship with the Maranello team is going.

"Working with Ferrari has been a very interesting experience," he said in an interview with Autosprint. "They have their team and the engine is designed around their needs, but I've found them extremely competent and helpful people.

"The modifications we requested in accordance with our installation design have been granted. In other words, they haven't told us 'this is the engine, build the car around it,' but they have satisfied all our requests for modifications."

The RB2 that ran at Silverstone is expected to only have minor aerodynamic tweaks before the start of the season, although the team are hoping that improvements will come from work being undertaken at their new Bedford wind-tunnel.

"The car that ran in Silverstone is in its almost definitive configuration," added Smith. "Based on future tests there might appear some aerodynamic modifications, but we're talking about details. The aerodynamics, especially on the sides of the car, are definitive.

"The second chassis, whose monocoque has already been built, will be assembled only in February, after the month of testing we'll carry out in the new wind tunnel and in the tests planned for Spain. The official presentation, on the other hand, will only happen in Bahrain."