The Red Bull RB17 is a lot of things – Adrian Newey’s final project before leaving the energy drink company; his second non-Formula 1 machine; and the missing piece in Red Bull Racing’s legacy.
But above all it’s the closest thing you can buy to a two-seat F1 car from Red Bull.
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The RB17, which slots between the 2021 RB16B and 2022’s RB18 as Newey started on the project during the COVID delays to the F1 season, is Newey’s follow-up to the Aston Martin Valkyrie. But while the Aston Martin was designed for road use, Newey hasn’t worried about that for the RB17 and has instead focused on creating the closest two-seater F1 experience.
“I had been mulling around the idea to take on the challenge to design our very own Hypercar, from concept to delivery, for many years and it has been a magnificent project and journey,” Newey explained. “For it to finally be the day we pull the covers off and see the birth of the RB17, is truly remarkable. The RB17 Hypercar embraces everything we stand for: undeniable power, speed and beauty. It is very adaptable in its abilities, and we made sure to design it as a two seater so that the thrill of driving at F1 speeds can be enjoyed with a friend or partner.”
The RB17, which was unveiled overnight at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, features a carbon fibre monocoque with a semi-stressed, mid-mounted, naturally-aspirated V10 engine driving the rear wheels through a carbon fibre gearbox. Red Bull Advanced Technologies claims the RB17 weighs just 900kg and makes nearly 900kW (1200hp) of power. It should sound like an old-school F1 car too, with the V10 revving all the way to 15,000rpm.
Naturally, given Newey’s renown for aerodynamics, the car is covered in shrink-wrapped bodywork that will help it both cut through the air and be forced down onto the track.
Red Bull claims the RB17 will have a top speed for more than 350km/h and will deliver “F1-equivalent lap times” but will also remain “easy to own and operate” for buyers.
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Only 50 people will be able to add an RB17 to their car collection, with Red Bull Advanced Technologies choosing that figure because it allows them to use the same supplier base as it does to build its F1 cars, rather than outsourcing to mainstream automotive providers.
Each owner will be “welcomed into the Red Bull family” with a bespoke driver development program to learn how to master the car and take part in specific track days. Naturally, they will also be able to fully customise the car, from exterior colour to interior details. Because of this, and the fact it will unlikely have any trouble finding 50 buyers (if they haven’t already) Red Bull hasn’t revealed a price for the RB17, but given its place in history it will almost-certainly become an automotive icon and will be much sought-after by collectors now and into the future.
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