Skip advert
Advertisement

Red Bull’s RB17 hypercar will offer F1 performance, and you can bring a passenger along for the ride

Adrian Newey is leaving Red Bull, but his final project with the team is a 1184bhp+ V10 hypercar that can match F1 lap times

We’ve heard it before, haven’t we? A hypercar that puts ‘Formula 1 performance’ in the hands of mere mortals (albeit very wealthy ones). The last car with this brief was the Aston Martin Valkyrie, and a staggering technical achievement though it is, a fraught development process meant it fell short of its stratospheric initial targets. Now, Red Bull is having a crack at the ultimate hypercar with the help of Adrian Newey – who incidentally also had a hand in the Valkyrie. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Red Bull’s creation is called the RB17, and unlike the Valkyrie, it hasn’t been designed with road use in mind. This is an out-and-out track car, one with a 15,000rpm V10 engine, active aerodynamics and a Newey-penned design, and it’s being shown to the public for the first time at this week’s Goodwood Festival of Speed

The RB17 has been developed by Red Bull’s Advanced Technologies division, free from the limitations of motorsport regulations or road homologation rules. At its core is a carbonfibre chassis with a two-seat cockpit, with the 4.5-litre V10 serving as a semi-stressed part of the structure. With the aid of a 197bhp electric motor, peak power is rated at more than 1184bhp, with drive sent to the rear through a six-speed gearbox (the e-motor takes care of reverse). The top speed is over 217mph. 

Despite the otherworldly performance, the RB17 has been designed to be accessible for a range of driver skill levels thanks to active suspension and aerodynamics. The ride height can adjust to change the car’s mechanical balance and roll, with movable elements in the front and rear wings to adapt to different circuit conditions and driving styles. With the help of ground-effect skirts, peak downforce is 1700kg – almost twice the weight of the car itself (sub-900kg is the target). 

There’s also hydraulic power steering, traction control and ABS for the carbon-carbon braking system, and a choice of 18-inch carbonfibre wheels with custom Michelin slick tyres or 20-inch items wearing treaded tyres. 

The RB17 has also been designed to be more habitable than all-out race cars, with a relatively roomy and highly adjustable cockpit with space for helmets and race suits. It’s also durable enough to run a 24 hour race without servicing, with scheduled maintenance carried out at the Red Bull Advanced Technologies HQ (major services are every 5000 miles). It can even run on 98RON pump fuel. 

Red Bull will sell 50 RB17s, with customers invited to take part in exclusive track days around the world with driver coaching and car setup support. Simulator sessions will also be offered to get a taste of the RB17’s performance and driving characteristics before strapping into the real car. The cost? Red Bull revealed an estimate of £5 million (plus taxes) in 2022, making the RB17 twice the price of a Valkyrie. 

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Aston Martin Valhalla nears production and its grudge match with the Lamborghini Revuelto
Aston Martin Valhalla rear
News

Aston Martin Valhalla nears production and its grudge match with the Lamborghini Revuelto

Aston Martin is putting the finishing touches on its 1064bhp, £850,000 Valhalla hypercar, before it goes into production
31 Mar 2025
Pagani Huayra Codalunga v Huayra Roadster BC – £10m of hypercar siblings go head-to-head
Pagani Huayra Codalunga and Roadster BC – front
Group tests

Pagani Huayra Codalunga v Huayra Roadster BC – £10m of hypercar siblings go head-to-head

We tested two of Pagani’s most spectacular creations side by side in Italy. There can surely be no loser
23 Mar 2025
Bugatti Tourbillon hypercar gets £185k Équipe Pur Sang upgrade package
Bugatti Tourbillon Équipe Pur Sang exhausts
News

Bugatti Tourbillon hypercar gets £185k Équipe Pur Sang upgrade package

Bugatti reveals motorsport-inspired upgrades for its Cosworth naturally aspirated V16-powered 273mph hypercar
20 Mar 2025
Best hypercars 2025 – the ultimate dream cars
Best hypercars 2025
Best cars

Best hypercars 2025 – the ultimate dream cars

Fastidiously engineered and breathtakingly fast, these are the finest hypercars of all time
17 Mar 2025
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Audi RS3 v Toyota GR Yaris v Mercedes-AMG A45 S – car pictures of the week
Hot hatch test
Features

Audi RS3 v Toyota GR Yaris v Mercedes-AMG A45 S – car pictures of the week

In the latest issue of evo, we test three of the most sophisticated hot hatches on sale against each other on road and track – these are our favourite…
29 Mar 2025
Used Audi RS6 Avant (C7, 2013 - 2019) review, specs and buying guide – family-friendly supercar slayer from £20k
Audi RS6 – front
In-depth reviews

Used Audi RS6 Avant (C7, 2013 - 2019) review, specs and buying guide – family-friendly supercar slayer from £20k

Audi’s C7-generation RS6 may lack ultimate involvement, but it’s still a crushingly effective and desirable super-estate
27 Mar 2025
Performance Link Mazda MX-5 R300 review – an MX-5 with Honda VTEC power
Performance Link Mazda MX-5 R300 – front
Reviews

Performance Link Mazda MX-5 R300 review – an MX-5 with Honda VTEC power

A screaming 296bhp Honda VTEC engine and a full chassis upgrade package turn the NC-generation Mazda MX-5 into something altogether more thrilling
25 Mar 2025