Aston Martin becomes Red Bull title sponsor in 2018

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Aston Martin will ramp up its support for Red Bull Racing next season as it becomes the title sponsor for the Milton Keynes-based outfit.

The luxury automotive company and Red Bull initiated a partnership last year which has seen the F1 outfit carry Aston Martin's branding on its cars.

But the collaboration has also yielded the development of Aston Martin's Valkyrie hypercar for which Red Bull Advanced Technologies supplied engineering expertise.

In Singapore, Red Bull Racing's management has declined to confirm the report but sources indicate that a deal to rename the team Aston Martin Red Bull Racing should be announced soon.

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"You can speculate all you like but I'm not going to confirm anything," team boss Christian Horner told Motorsport.com.

"We've got a great relationship with Aston, obviously working on and developing the Valkyrie hypercar for them.

"They're doing a great job, the product is great, and they've got a lot of great stuff in the pipeline. There will be news to follow in weeks to come."

Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer said in Singapaore this weekend that his company is open to further expanding its relationship with Red Bull Racing.

Aston's executive also revealed that he is closely monitoring F1's work on its future engine regulations, adding that the company could consider building its own power unit if costs and technology are scaled back.

"It's fair to say that one of the reasons I'm here today is to discuss what next season looks like," Palmer Motorsport.com.

"And within that context, do we or don't we provide an independent engine in 2021? And then join the dots.

"As a company we kind of sit in the same world as F1, often with the same engineers. So the technical capability exists, it's just a matter of money.

"Up to a point it's OK, but if we are going to continue to have heat recovery systems, no cap on the spend, and as many dynamometer hours as you like, the we'll check out.

"But if there is a way of making it work, I think the sport would be a lot richer."

The prospect of Aston Martin powering Red Bull Racing from 2021 flies in the face of pundits' theory that Porsche could return to F1 with the Milton Keynes-based team, either as an engine supplier or as an fully fledged team after buying Red Bull.

The more immediate question however is who shall power Red Bull Racing at the end of 2018 when, as anticipated, its engine supply contract with Renault comes to an end?

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.