► Aston and Red Bull get closer
► Title sponsorship, new tech R&D base
► Aston Martin Red Bull Racing F1 team
Aston Martin and Red Bull have been courting each other for some time: the two companies share similar values, have leaders who respect each other and dream of a roadgoing hypercar to quash Bugattis in the shape of the Valkyrie.
Now the two Midlands automotive specialists have announced a deepening of their ties. Aston Martin will become title sponsor of Red Bull Racing in 2018 and is considering being an engine provider from 2021.
The F1 team will race as Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, the bosses (Aston’s Andy Palmer, above left, and Red Bull’s Christian Horner, above right) confirmed today.
Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing: what else is new?
Aston confirmed it is helping launch a new Advanced Performance Centre at the F1 team’s campus in Milton Keynes.
Palmer, Aston president and CEO, said: ‘Title partnership is the next logical step for our Innovation Partnership with Red Bull Racing. We are enjoying the global brand awareness that a revitalised Formula One provides.
‘The power unit discussions are of interest to us but only if the circumstances are right. We are not about to enter an engine war with no restrictions in cost or dynamometer hours but we believe that if the FIA can create the right environment we would be interested in getting involved.’
Aston Martin Valkyrie: what’s next?
The extraordinary Valkyrie hypercar is the first fruit of the Aston Martin Red Bull collaboration. All 175 examples have sold out already and the first customer cars will arrive in 2019.
Codenamed AM-RB 001, the Valkyrie mixes a 6.5-litre Cosworth V12 with a lightweight skeletal chassis made from F1-grade composite material. The final specs are still being worked on, but expect a kerbweight of around 1000kg – with scintillating performance figures to match.
Interestingly, Aston Martin this week confirmed the Valkyrie is ‘the first in a line of incredible products to be borne of this innovation partnership’ with Red Bull. Watch this space for more low-volume hypercars, then…
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