There is no doubt that the current F1 domination where Max Verstappen has won 3 consecutive titles resulted from excellent strategy and Adrian Newey’s conceptual understanding of the Ground-Effect era! It was a surprise when Adrian announced that he would be leaving this team, with whom he had won 7 constructors titles and 8 world championships courtesy of Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. However, designing sportscars has always been one of Newey’s interests. Before leaving the Redbull F1 Team, this Hypercar project can be the final creation he will be doing for the Austrian Team before he leaves in March 2025. The Redbull RB17 Hypercar was showcased to the world in the Goodwood Festival Of Speed and we will show you around this masterpiece!
The RB17 name comes thanks to the classification of Redbull F1 Cars. Redbull named their 2020 F1 car RB16 and then for 2021, they named their car RB16B as development was limited due to the impact of Covid as the RB16B made small but significant changes which helped them secure the 2021 World Drivers Championship. Then, in 2022, they named the next creation RB18 skipping the 17 which is now utilised in Redbull’s work of art. According to Adrian Newey, the car should’ve had 1000hp and 150kg weight for the engine, but it happened for a good reason.
This is because the RB17 will have a 4.5-litre V10 which produces 1200hp with an electric motor and can produce top speeds of 350 km/h! The car weighs just around 900kg which means it has an amazing power-to-weight ratio and can produce F1 racecar-like lap times, pulling 5Gs in the corners, according to simulations. This was a change that even Newey was happy about as it reminded him of the F1 cars of the mid-2000s which he was particularly passionate about, in regards to their iconic sound!
You honestly cannot judge the styling of the RB17 as it is a work of art. Styling can have aspects which will become outdated but when a car is designed around aerodynamic advantages, it becomes timeless! The roof scoop, winglets, and naked ducts, combined with the aggressive packaging of downforce-enhancing components elegantly, requires time to digest.
The RB17 is just entering production as parts like the engine, gearbox, and chassis are waiting to be track-tested. These components, once tested, will be altered to meet the desired performance requirements and lap times. The World Endurance Championship used the term Hypercar to signify the highest class of racing. The RB17 must comply with all the LMH guidelines so that it can be sold as a track-only customer racer! When asked about the possibility of entering WEC and Le Mans, Newey replied that it is possible but will require significant aerodynamic changes, for packaging.
Only 50 cars are to be made with Newey attending a few races as part of RB17’s sales plan to attract potential customers with the help of his son Harrison who happens to be a BRDC Formula 4 Runner-up and 2017-18 Asian Le Mans Series Champion, acting as customer manager for the RB17! Redbull will offer a warranty of 2,485 miles/4000km or 2 years, whichever is earlier. This is part of the Redbull Track Program where buyers will be allowed to race their RB17s on undisclosed tracks. In a few ways, the RB17 is similar to Valkyrie AMR Pro but the RB17 is crazier as it is lighter and can enter Le Mans just like the Aston Martin which is a prospect we can’t stop thinking about!
