Red Bull has finally pulled the wraps off the ultimate evolution of its first-ever hypercar, the RB17 – and it’s unmistakably dripping in Formula 1 DNA.
Conceived by Red Bull Advanced Technologies and refined with guidance from legendary designer Adrian Newey, the RB17 now stands as a rolling manifesto of what happens when creative obsession meets no regulatory ceiling.
First teased as a prototype at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the RB17 that now emerges is a sharper, more aggressive machine, honed relentlessly as it edges closer to production.
While Newey has since moved on to Aston Martin, his fingerprints remain firmly embedded in the car’s final form – proof that some design philosophies refuse to be confined by contracts or paddock politics.
Only 50 examples will ever exist. Each will house a screaming 4.5-litre Cosworth-built V10 capable of revving to 15,000rpm, producing over 1,000bhp, with a further 200 horsepower supplied by an electric motor. It’s a powertrain that feels less like a nod to F1 history and more like a defiant celebration of it.
Newey’s Ghost Still in the Machine
Despite his departure, Newey remained within arm’s reach of the RB17 project as it neared completion – a detail confirmed by Red Bull Advanced Technologies technical director Rob Gray.
“Adrian’s allowed [to consult on the project], and he’s still interested in what’s going on,” Gray told Top Gear.
“But to an extent we got what we needed from him, we know what he wanted the car to look like and he’s always on the end of the phone if we need him.”
That guidance wasn’t merely philosophical. One of the RB17’s most dramatic late-stage design tweaks came directly from Newey himself.
“One of the last changes Adrian made was to move the exhaust onto the spine of the engine cover. That’s quite a big change, and led to a lot of work on the thermal side of things – to stop bits catching fire.”
It’s a very Newey solution: elegant, aggressive, and daring engineers to make the impossible practical.
More Than a Hypercar – A Red Bull Experience
The first RB17 test car has already entered production, but customers will need patience – with delivery expected in spring 2027. Those fortunate enough to secure one will also need deep pockets, with multiple reports placing the price north of £5 million.
Yet Red Bull insists the cost buys more than carbon fibre and horsepower. Each RB17 will be bespoke to its owner and bundled with a full immersion into Red Bull Racing’s ecosystem, including “access to simulators, vehicle program development and on-track training and experiences”.
It’s not just ownership – it’s initiation.
Newey himself captured the spirit of the project when the RB17 first appeared at Goodwood in 2024, offering a glimpse into the philosophy behind the machine.
“The RB17 Hypercar embraces everything we stand for: undeniable power, speed and beauty,” he said.
“It is very adaptable in its abilities, and we made sure to design it as a two seater so that the thrill of driving at F1 speeds can be enjoyed with a friend or partner.”
As the RB17 enters its final chapter before customer production, it feels less like a side project and more like Red Bull’s ultimate flex – a reminder that when the company decides to build a car without compromise, it does so with the same ruthless precision that made it a Formula 1 powerhouse.
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