Adrian Newey, Chief technology officer and designer of the RB17 hypercar, discusses what inspired him to create it and how it will be manufactured. He explores the design philosophy, training for driving a supercar, and the ultimate performance and design of the RB17. Additionally, he talks about the decision-making process, the use of notebooks, multitasking, and passion projects.
The RB17 hypercar is Red Bull's first-ever hypercar designed by Adrian Newey, and it aims to push the boundaries of ultimate track performance with its no-regulation design philosophy.
The RB17 offers a unique customer experience, with potential buyers being integrated into the development process and provided opportunities to experience the prototype, attend Formula One races, and give feedback throughout the process.
Deep dives
The Birth of the RB17 Hypercar
The RB17 hypercar, Red Bull's first-ever hypercar designed by Adrian Newey, began as a passion project that started with a sketch on a PlayStation back in 2010. The project evolved from the Valkyrie collaboration with Aston Martin and eventually became an independent venture by Red Bull. The RB17 aims to be an all-Red Bull hypercar, focusing on track performance and pushing the boundaries of ultimate performance with its no-regulation design philosophy.
Approaching a Hypercar Design
Designing a hypercar like the RB17 involves a similar philosophy to designing an F1 car, with research, design, and development processes applied differently. While F1 has strict regulations, the RB17 benefits from more freedom but still has physical constraints to consider, such as accommodating two people comfortably. The design process emphasizes the use of available technology and focuses on factors like weight optimization, aerodynamics, adaptability, and creating a vehicle that is exciting to drive but not intimidating, catering to a wide range of driver abilities.
The Excitement of Creating the RB17
Adrian Newey expresses his excitement about the RB17's progress, with the final specification fixed and parts being manufactured and rig tested. During the development journey, Newey discusses how the RB17 started as a passion project during the Christmas break of 2020. He mentions that the design process is now complete, with manufacturing set to begin in 2026. Newey also highlights the collaboration with suppliers, including using the same suppliers as Formula One, to ensure the highest quality of components.
The RB17 Customer Experience
The RB17 offers a unique customer experience, with potential buyers participating in the development process and getting involved in the journey. Red Bull plans to welcome customers to the factory, show them the design offices, research, and development work, and provide opportunities to experience the prototype on simulators and as a passenger. The customer program also includes events like attending Formula One races as guests and organizing track days for RB17 owners. Red Bull aims to make customers feel like part of the Red Bull family and to cater to their preferences and feedback throughout the process.
Nicola Hume chats to chief technology officer Adrian Newey about the upcoming RB17 hypercar which is coming to a track near you in 2025. The car has been designed by Newey and in this episode he talks all about what inspired him to create it, and how it will be manufactured in conjunction with Red Bull Advanced Technologies. Also, Adrian discusses how purchasers of this limited-run car will become integrated into the team, plus he reveals how he is feeling ahead of February’s RB20 launch.
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