Red Bull Racing will have their brand new Adrian Newey-designed 2012 challenger ready to race at the first pre-season test of the season in Jerez, according to the team's often-inaccurate motorsport consultant Helmut Marko.
The new Red Bull RB8 car will follow in the footsteps of Newey's most successful design in over a decade, the all-conquering RB7.
Teams are facing a tighter schedule than usual to get their new cars ready for the first test in 2012, with the FIA having changed the crash test rules.
For 2012, the mandatory FIA crash tests must be passed before the start of testing, rather than simply the start of the season itself.
But despite the tighter timetable, Marko says that the Red Bull team are on course to make the first test.
"Time is short, but our programme is that we are ready for the first test at Jerez with the new car," he bellowed to the Gazzetta dello Sport publication in Italy.
Currently, only the Mercedes and HRT teams are expected to skip the first test, beginning at the Jerez track on February 7th.
For 2012, Red Bull are expected to be the team to beat again, given the relative parity in regulations from last year to this.
However, some have suggested that the ban on blown diffusers and 2011's clever off throttle engine maps will have a more significant effect on RBR than their rivals.
Marko, though, remained calm, saying: "The rules are the same for everyone. We have taken up the challenge [of the new rules]."
He added: "The most important thing for a championship battle is that the car is good and the driver is able to work with it in the way he wants, like Sebastian Vettel could last year.
"We don't know if he will again race away three seconds ahead of the others in the first lap, but of course we expect him to be at the top, just as we do as well with Mark Webber."
Vettel and Red Bull will be aiming for an improbable three straight drivers and constructors titles with success in 2012.
The team is yet to confirm an official launch date for their new car.
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