Aston Martin, Red Bull pen new deal for new products

After strengthening its partnership with Red Bull Racing, Aston Martin has planned to create new high-performance models along the lines of its Valkyrie hypercar. The British marque is also seriously considering entering Formula 1 with an engine programme and as a title sponsor for an F1 team.

Aston Martin has sponsored the Red Bull F1 team since 2016 as a part of an alliance that saw Red Bull designer Adrian Newey creating and designing the Valkyrie. This partnership has now expanded to including collaborating on new products and the British carmaker serving as the F1 team’s title sponsor.

While no product details have been revealed, Aston Martin provided hints the Valkyrie is the “first in a line of incredible products” suggesting that the collaboration will churn out similar performance-oriented limited-edition models.

Red Bull Racing’s headquarters in Milton Keynes, UK will see the addition of a new Aston Martin Advanced Performance Centre later this year, which will employ about 110 Asto Martin staff who will be working on creating new sports cars.

From 2018, the F1 team will be re-badged as Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, though it will still use Renault engines, currently branded as TAG Heuer units. However, Aston CEO Andy Palmer has confirmed an interest in entering the sport as an engine manufacturer in 2021, when new technical rules are set to be introduced. Aston Martin has been in talks with other manufacturers and F1’s governing body about the new rules.

Palmer said any Aston entry was dependent on firm cost controls being put in place. He said: “We are not about to enter an engine war with no restrictions in cost or dynamometer hours, but if the FIA can create the right environment, we would be interested in getting involved.”

The Red Bull Racing team has used Renault engines since 2007 and claimed four drivers’ titles with Sebastian Vettel from 2010-2013. However, there has been ongoing friction between the two companies, with the French engine supplier feeling it didn’t receive enough credit for its contribution to those titles.

That is what has led to Red Bull’s Renault units being badged as TAG Heuers through a sponsorship deal. Renault recently secured a deal to supply engines to McLaren from 2018 onwards.