Red Bull geared up for season opener

Red Bull Racing’s quest for their first World Championship begins this weekend.

The Formula One season will return with a bang in Bahrain as seven-times World Champion Michael Schumacher returns to the sport, reign Champion Jenson Button races alongside Lewis Hamilton and 12 teams line up on the track.

Red Bull have stuck with the same pairing of Sebastian Vettel, tipped for the title by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, and Mark Webber, who finished second and third respectively last season.

This year the duo are expected to once again be fighting at the top end of the track with the Adrian Newey designed RB6.

Last season the introduction of the Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) system was one of the most dramatic rule changes in recent history.

This year the FIA have made minor adjustments with the point system the biggest change.

In place of the previous structure, which saw the top eight drivers scoring 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and one point respectively, this year the top ten finishers will score points.

The change has been introduced as a result of the expanded grid of 12 teams.

Under the new system, the race winner takes 25 points, with 18 and 15 being awarded for second and third places respectively.

The next seven finishers will score 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1 point respectively.

There is also a ban on refuelling during races for the first time since 1993. Pit stops will not become a thing of the past, however, as drivers still have to use both dry-weather tyre compounds during the GP.