Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing to create next-gen hypercar

Posted on 17 Mar 2016 by Jonny Williamson

Aston Martin and Formula One team, Red Bull Racing have announced a partnership to produce a ground-breaking Aston Martin hypercar.

Codenamed Project AM-RB 001, the new hypercar will reportedly represent the ultimate blend of cutting-edge F1 technology with Aston Martin’s signature sports car design.

The combined talents of Red Bull Racing’s chief technical officer, Adrian Newey, widely noted as the most successful Formula One designer of all time, and Aston Martin’s chief creative officer, Marek Reichman, the luxury manufacturer’s design chief since 2005, are set to produce the ultimate hypercar.

Combining the strongest elements of Red Bull Racing, Red Bull Advanced Technologies and Aston Martin, this new Innovation Partnership unites some of the world’s best aerodynamicists, composite experts and manufacturing leaders.

All the parties offer different elite capabilities and the combination of all of those skills, ensuring that Project AM-RB 001 promises to be an exciting prospect for customers and enthusiasts around the world.

Aston Martin CEO, Dr Andy Palmer commented: “Formula One offers the ultimate global stage to build wider awareness of the Aston Martin brand.

250 new jobs at Aston Martin as part of £20m Gaydon expansion
The new Innovation Partnership unites some of the world’s best aerodynamicists, composite experts and manufacturing leaders.

“However, this partnership will deliver even more than that when the hypercar that Aston Martin and Adrian Newey are in the process of developing hits the road.

“Between Q by Aston Martin Advanced, Red Bull Advanced Technologies and project partner AF Racing AG, we are going to create a car that will excite and stir the imaginations of the car designers of the future and a global audience of sports car enthusiasts.

“These are exciting times for Aston Martin and arriving hot on the heels of our DB11 launch earlier this month, this new partnership underlines that our brand really is racing again.”

Red Bull Racing Team principalm Christian Horner said of the new partnership: “Through this Innovation Partnership, the iconic Aston Martin logo will return to grand prix racing for the first time since 1960, and Red Bull Advanced Technologies, led by Adrian, will be harnessing our Formula One DNA to produce the ultimate of all road cars.

“It’s an incredible project which also realises a dream and vision long held by Adrian to design a road car. We are very much looking forward to what I’m certain will be a successful partnership.”

Red Bull Racing's RB 12 seen during a UK studio shoot on February 20, 2016.
Red Bull Racing’s RB 12 seen during a UK studio shoot on February 20, 2016.

As the designer of cars such as the Aston Martin DB11 – which was revealed earlier this month at the Geneva International Motor Show – the Aston Martin Vulcan and the One-77, Marek Reichman holds the key to the unmistakeable design language of the modern era of Aston Martins.

He noted: “We are in the process of developing a hypercar that combines the latest in aerodynamics from F1 and the stunning design language of an Aston Martin sports car.

“The opportunity to collaborate with Adrian and Red Bull Advanced Technologies will be a fascinating experience for everyone involved. Unconstrained by F1 regulations, we have a unique chance to create a car in its most efficient form that will represent the ultimate fusion of art and technology.”

Having an illustrious Formula One career spanning nearly 30 years, and as the designer of ten World Championship winning Formula One cars, the partnership represents a new challenge for Red Bull Racing’s Adrian Newey.

Red Bull Racing - Photos from the Milton Keynes Factory
Red Bull Racing’s trophy cabinet to date.

He commented: “From the age of six, I have had two goals in life – to be involved in the design of racing cars, and to be involved in the design of a super car.

“While the former ambition went on to form my career to date, the latter has always bubbled away, resulting in countless sketches and doodles over the years.

“The opportunity to now develop and realise those ideas whilst working with Marek and his colleagues from Aston Martin is tremendously exciting.  It allows us to translate the technology we have developed in F1 into a new arena.”