Aston confirms Red Bull F1 dealposted in F125 | 09 | 2017
ASTON MARTIN AND Red Bull have joined forces in Formula One. The iconic British sports car maker is set to become the title sponsor of the Red Bull F1 team from next season. It’s also likely Aston Martin will develop its engines from 2021. (Related: Scot Jonny Adam wins Le Mans with Aston Martin)
The new expansion of the pair’s current existing relationship will also include the establishment of an Aston Martin ‘Advanced Performance Centre’ at Red Bull’s Milton Keynes HQ in Bucks. The expansion will create 110 new jobs.
In addition, the partnership will lead to future collaborations along the lines of the Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar (pictured below) that saw involvement from Red Bull’s renowned chief designer Adrian Newey. The 150-car allocation for the Valkyrie has already sold out before the first one has rolled off the production line.
“Our Innovation Partnership with Aston Martin has been a pioneering project from day one,” Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing team principal, said.
“Having conceived and created the remarkably successful Valkyrie together in 2016, we extended our relationship this year and are now delighted to further strengthen the Partnership and see the team competing as Aston Martin Red Bull Racing in 2018.
“In addition, more than 100 Aston Martin staff will service the new Advanced Performance Centre on our campus here in Milton Keynes and it will allow us to collaborate further with Aston Martin on special, equally innovative, new projects.”
Red Bull’s F1 cars will carry prominent Aston Martin badging in 2018 and, along with the new performance engineering facilities there is an opportunity for Aston Martin to potentially develop the Red Bull team’s power unit beginning from the 2021 season.
“Title partnership is the next logical step for our Innovation Partnership with Red Bull Racing,” Andy Palmer, Aston Martin President and CEO, said. “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.”
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Jim McGill