Aston Martin Valkyrie only the start of Red Bull Racing collaboration
Amidst an announcement about its Formula One partnership future with Red Bull Racing, Aston Martin has confirmed that, once it officially launches next year, its V12 hybrid-assisted Valkyrie hypercar will only be the first product to come out of the ‘innovation partnership’ between the heavy-hitting pair.
Announcing itself as title and innovation partner of what will be known from 2018 as ‘Aston Martin Red Bull Racing’, the British luxury marque said the partnership “will yield future products” – products described by Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner as “special, equally innovative, new projects”.
As a preview of things to come, the partnership has already been responsible for developing the sold-out Aston Martin Valkyrie.
“The Aston Martin Valkyrie, which sold out on launch, is set to be the first in a line of incredible products to be borne of this innovation partnership,” Aston Martin said via a release.
A new ‘Advanced Performance Centre’ is also part of the Aston Martin/Red Bull Racing plan, with the facility – located on Red Bull Racing’s Milton Keynes campus and due to open later this year – focussing on “the adoption of both F1 and road-car technology”.
It will also open a second dedicated Aston Martin design centre, staffed by engineering personnel “who will be working on future sports cars”.
Additionally, Aston Martin says it will evaluate the potential of producing the F1 team’s power unit from 2021, after the FIA asked the UK brand to join discussions on future engines for the sport.
“The power unit discussions are of interest to us but only if the circumstances are right,” Aston Martin president and CEO Andy Palmer (below left) said.
“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.”
Currently powered by a Renault powerplant, Red Bull Racing Tag Heuer sits in third place in this year’s 2017 F1 Constructor’s Championship – behind Mercedes and Ferrari. Aussie Daniel Ricciardo is its highest ranked driver, in fourth position in the Driver’s Championship, with young-gun Max Verstappen’s difficult year seeing him down in sixth.
Blending a 6.5-litre naturally-aspirated Cosworth-sourced V12 engine with an F1-style hybrid-energy drive system, the Aston Martin Valkyrie is due to begin production in 2018, with first deliveries to reach customers in 2019.
Although outputs are yet to be confirmed, power is tipped to be in the realm of 840kW or 1130hp – more than the just-revealed turbocharged 1.6-litre V6-powered Mercedes-AMG Project One.
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