Max Verstappen says his filming day in the new RB16 left him with a ‘very positive’ feeling after a successful shakedown.

The Dutch driver was given the honour of taking the wheel of the new RB16 for the first time, as Red Bull opted to launch their car via a shakedown at Silverstone’s national circuit.

With temperatures in the low single digits, Verstappen drove around on special Wet compound Pirellis especially made for filming days, where teams are permitted 100 kilometres of track time for marketing purposes. It also serves as a good way for teams to perform initial systems checks on a brand new machine, such as what Red Bull and Mercedes have opted to do for 2020.

The teams who hold event launches, like Ferrari, McLaren and Alpha Tauri, as well as the several other teams, including Williams, Renault and Alfa Romeo who launch their cars on the opening morning of testing in the Barcelona pitlane won’t have had the benefit of a shakedown as a result.

Verstappen didn’t encounter any issues with the RB16 on its maiden run, and said afterwards: “I just finished my filming day and first day in the RB16.”