Red Bull Racing’s entry for the 2012 season, the RB8 was driven by then two-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, with former Scuderia Toro Rosso driver Sébastien Buemi as test driver. Designed by Adrian Newey, the RB8 was the fourth evolution of a concept started with the RB5 in 2009. It was a rather complex evolution, however, as 2012 regulations specified a particular area where the exhausts could exit, requiring the team to remove the blown diffuser, a core part of the RB7’s design. Red Bull had pioneered the previous exhaust layout as no other team had and the change in regulations hit them harder than any other team.

The RB8 started the season poorly and lacked a solid balance, which was likely to due to Red Bull having to drop their work into an exhaust redirection system which was quite far along in the design process, though no parts were yet produced. Regulations only initially restricted exhaust-influenced bodywork ahead of the rear axle but the FIA closed that loophole after Mercedes AMG brought their attention to it. The legality of the RB8 would become an ongoing theme as the 2012 season progressed, and Red Bull had to make further changes at the Canadian Grand Prix after the RB8’s floor was outlawed. The team were forced to alter the engine-mapping of its Renault power units after the Hungarian Grand Prix after the FIA moved to close another loophole in the regulations.

Despite introducing improvements, the car still wasn't the fastest of the field and recorded just three wins and three further podiums in the first 13 races, including their first double retirement since Korea in 2010 at the Italian Grand Prix. This was a pale display compared to the dominance of RB7 the year before, though consistent points scoring still had Red Bull 29 points clear in the Constructors’ Championship. At Singapore however, Red Bull brought in an update that would prove decisive. The team’s technical dominance was exhibited through a new nose, improved wings and a double DRS system and Vettel subsequently recorded four straight victories and two podiums, earning Red Bull the Constructors’ title at the penultimate race in the US. In the final race in Brazil, Vettel had to finish fourth or above to claim the Drivers’ trophy but only managed sixth position. Fortunately for him, his title rival Fernando Alonso failed to win the race, handing Vettel his third Drivers’ Championship title in a row by a slender margin of three points. Red Bull finished the season with a 60 point gap to second place Ferrari.

Overall, the Red Bull Racing RB8 achieved seven wins, seven further podiums, 460 Constructors’ Championship points, one Drivers’ Championship and one Constructors’ Championship.

This fine 1:4 scale model of the Red Bull RB8 Steering Wheel has been handcrafted and finished in our workshops with the co-operation and assistance of the manufacturer regarding original finishes, materials, archive imagery and drawings. Furthermore, it has undergone detailed scrutiny by both engineering and design teams to ensure complete accuracy of representation.

Please note that our 1:4 scale steering wheels do not come with moving parts.

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This model is part of the Red Bull Racing Formula One Collection.

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This model is one of many in our Miniature Steering Wheels Collection.

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