Aston Martin is to re-enter Formula 1 "after more than half a century’s absence from the motorsport" as the British luxury carmaker seeks to "promote its brand internationally," according to Peter Campbell of the FINANCIAL TIMES. A deal with Red Bull Racing will see the pair collaborate on the car for next year’s season, while also working on a "hypercar" for road use to be unveiled in the next two months. Aston Martin "will not provide the engines to the F1 cars," but will work on its design and production technology alongside Red Bull as part of an "innovation partnership." The carmaker will "also be able to draw on technology developed by Red Bull, such as new ways of constructing" carbon fiber. As part of the deal, Aston’s marque, which has been missing from the sport since '60, will also appear on the RB12 car from the Australian GP onwards -- "pitting it directly against rivals Ferrari and McLaren" (FT, 3/17). REUTERS' Ian Ransom reported Red Bull Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey "is to work with Aston Martin's design boss Marek Reichman on the superfast road car, dubbed Project AM-RB-001." Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer said, "Formula 1 offers the ultimate global stage to build wider awareness of the Aston Martin brand. However, this partnership will deliver even more than that when the hypercar that Aston Martin and Adrian Newey are in the process of developing hits the road" (REUTERS, 3/17). In London, Andrew Frankel reported those looking for "rather more concrete evidence of the so called AM-RB 001’s potential" should find the claim of an Aston spokesperson that it "will be faster around Silverstone than a current Formula One car" does the trick. The look of the new car, "of which just one sketch has been released," is the work of Newey and Aston Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman. The car will be designed by them "with full access to Red Bull’s technological firepower before being handed over to Aston Martin," where it will be engineered by the same Special Operations department responsible for the track-only Vulcan hypercar. Aston Martin will also build the car. Fewer than 100 units will be made, at a price stated to be in excess of £1.8M ($2.6M) (TELEGRAPH, 3/17).
'JUST THE START': AUTOSPORT's Lawrence Barretto reported given the close relationship Red Bull has with Palmer and Aston Martin Dir of Marketing & Communications Simon Sproule, who were involved in the deal with former sponsor Infiniti, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner suggested this partnership "has the scope to evolve." Horner: "Everything is possible. This is just the start" (AUTOSPORT, 3/17).
