Two teams to f1 party

Scuderia Toro Rosso enjoyed a Magic Carpet ride into the Formula One spotlight. After all the drivers, senior engineers and management faced a grilling from the press in the Sakhir circuit during an informal launch press conference, the actual livery for the team was revealed in fine style at a night time event in the city of Manama.

Hours from the start of this year's Formula One action getting underway in Bahrain, Red Bull hosted a spectacular Arabian Nights launch for Scuderia Toro Rosso's debut in the sport. Its sister team (Red Bull Racing) also showed off its new look at the event.

The world's press and a galaxy of VIP guests were invited to attend the "1002nd Arabian Night" on a private island off the coast of Bahrain. Oil lamps lit the way down a kilometre of carpet to the venue where everything Arabia is famous for was on show. Dancers and musicians entertained everyone as they feasted on delicious local cuisine, prior to the action speeding up on stage. Film of the two teams in action culminated in some atmospheric footage of all four cars from both teams racing one another around the Paul Ricard Circuit in the South of France.

Then, in a moment straight out of every cliché of Arabian culture, a Red Bull Racing car and Scuderia Toro Rosso machine swept through the air on hidden wires to arrive on stage as if on a Magic Carpet. The new liveries reflect the fact that Red Bull's two teams are in competition with one another but are very much part of the same family. As the obligatory dry ice swirled around the cars, the six drivers stepped out on stage to an enthusiastic welcome from the one thousand strong crowd.

Scuderia Toro Rosso's young drivers were impressed. "This is a fantastic event and I love a party," said the team's American rookie, Scott Speed. "After winter testing mainly in Europe, I love the warm weather here."

Tonio Liuzzi is an old hand at Red Bull parties so had a laid-back approach. "Hey, it's Red Bull, of course it's an awesome party! But I'm going to bed early now, as I have a job to do tomorrow."

Neel Jani was enthusiastic about his first official function with Toro Rosso. "Wow, the car looks fantastic, but to be honest I'm more impressed by the beautiful women here!"

The Bahrain event proved to be as spectacular as the Shanghai Red Bull party that brought last year's Championship to an impressive climax. But with work tomorrow, the event did not go on too long after midnight, but was given the official seal of approval, by the presence of FIA President Max Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone.