Red Bull Racing knows how to make a car, as its overflowing trophy cabinet shows. However, until now, it has only ever made one kind: F1 cars. We’re going to get to see what its first attempt at a hypercar looks like this year. Not an F1 car, and not quite a road car, the Red Bull RB17 was first announced in 2022. Billed as a no-holds-barred track-only hypercar, it will be designed by F1 legend Adrian Newey, will make 1,233 hp, and will feature hybrid technology.
Unfortunately, many of the other important
details for this car remain a secret. However, in a recent interview with Sky
Sports, Red Bull F1 Team Principal Christian Horner said that we’ll learn more
this year, when the car is fully revealed. While we eagerly await more official
information about the car, reports indicate that its incredible power will be
generated by a twin-turbo V8 engine that is being built by an unnamed third
party. It will be assisted by an F1-style energy recovery system that provides
drivers will torque fill.
Newey previously said that he is targeting
a curb weight of just 900 kg, which would an impressive feat. That
makes it lighter than the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro, which was also
designed with his input. However, that would still be around 48 kg heavier than
the Gordon Murray Automotive T.50s. Thanks to the designer’s work on the car,
you can be sure that it will harness the air expertly. Intriguingly, reports
suggest that it will make use of ground effects, an aerodynamic principal that
Red Bull Racing has shown a greater mastery of than its F1 competitors, making
a real showcase of Newey’s genius.
Red Bull plans to build a total of 50
RB17s at a rate of 15 per year, with deliveries starting in 2025. Estimates suggest
that it will cost buyers £ 5 million (US$ 6.37 million at current exchange
rates) to get their hands on one. However, they should be forewarned that even
after paying that amount of money, they won’t be able to drive it on public
roads, as this is a track-only hypercar.
