The Formula 1 circus has returned to Monaco with a number of changes compared to the 2024 season. One of the biggest comes in the shape of Adrian Newey now flying the Aston Martin flag and attending his first race with the team this weekend. Red Bull, his former team, has responded by placing its £5 million hypercar, designed by the British engineer, on full display.
Having made its debut at 2024’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, the RB17 now sits at Red Bull’s Energy Station, displaying the Milton Keynes’ achievement that was Newey’s swansong with the team.
Several F1-related car brands are creating F1-inspired machinery. Mercedes has released the AMG One, Aston Martin the Valkyrie – again with influence from Newey – but it was a surprise when Red Bull, an energy drinks company, confirmed it was to produce a hypercar.
Powered by a Cosworth 4.5-litre V10 engine capable of screaming to 15,000 rpm and producing 1,000 horsepower. Electric power adds another 200 horses to the mix, making it one of the most powerful road cars of this type in the world.
With active suspension, a carbon fibre monocoque, and an expected weight of less than 900kg, this machine should be incredibly impressive when all 50 units are finally released.
Newey joined Aston Martin earlier this year as managing technical partner. Now, wearing green and equipped with a matching notepad, the aerodynamicist is casting his eye over the grid for the first time this season.
His former boss, Christian Horner, discussed his return with a rival team with Sky Sports F1.
“It’s great to see.
“I haven’t seen him [in person] in green yet. He looks like a giant bogey. It’s odd seeing him in green. He’s a racer.
“I don’t think he’s ever missed a race at this track, even going back to his gardening leave at McLaren. We’ll catch up with him later but good to see him here.”
So far this season, Newey has been placing his focus on the 2026 regulations. But with the Silverstone team struggling once again, he’s been giving feedback on what he believes could be going wrong on the AMR25.
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Adrian Newey, Chief Technical Officer of Aston Martin F1
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images via Getty Images
“When Adrian joined at the beginning of March, we said: ‘Right, we need Adrian to focus on 2026 and the architecture of the car.’ That’s what he’s primarily been focused on,” team principal Andy Cowell told the media, including Motorsport.com.
“Lunchtime conversations have not just included what he’s eating and what he’s been doing at the weekend.
“It’s also included conversations about our existing car, the ’25 car, and what might be the issues, but it’s a separate engineering team that have been working on the ’25 car.”
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