Sebastian Vettel has named his new RB6 Formula One car 'Luscious Liz'.

The 22-year-old German and 2009 championship runner-up famously called last year's Red Bull 'Kate's Dirty Sister' - because it was faster and more aggressive than its predecessor 'Kate'. His 2008 Toro Rosso was called Julie.

Giving his cars a female name, emblazoned on the 'dashboard' of the car, is now one of Vettel's several F1-related superstitions.

Vettel religiously steps into his cars and dismounts from the left-hand side, and slides a lucky coin behind the laces of his boot.

"If I could design a superstar, Sebastian would be the result," F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone writes in the latest edition of Auto Bild Motorsport.

"He is exactly what Formula One needs: a young, super-talented driver who is intelligent but not arrogant, popular with the public and good with the media, normal but still very professional."