Adrian Newey has left Red Bull, but not before dropping a road-going grenade: the RB17.
‘It’s got a V10 that screams to 15,000 rpm, 1,200 horsepower, and weighs less than your tumble dryer.’
Oh, and it produces 1,700kg of downforce at 150mph.
Only 50 people will own one.
The rest of us will just sit quietly and weep.
Read on if your pride can take it.
The RB17 is Red Bull’s first-ever hypercar, dreamed up by Adrian Newey — the man whose F1 cars make other engineers cry in the shower.
Development began in late 2020, with Newey testing three brutal design versions before settling on something fast enough to scare God.
It’s powered by a Cosworth-built 4.5-litre naturally aspirated V10, revving to 15,000rpm. Add a 200hp electric motor, and you’re looking at 1,200hp total.
Despite being over 5 metres long, the RB17 weighs under 900kg. Yes, that’s right. It’s lighter than a Fiesta.
The downforce is nearly double its weight.
It generates 1,700kg of downforce at just 150mph, enough to park it on the ceiling if you’re so inclined.
With a top speed of over 217mph, it promises F1-level lap times—but comes with active suspension and adjustable aero so that you can drive it without neck surgery.
Only 50 will be made, each costing £5 million.
Owners get exclusive track days and Red Bull simulator access, just in case the pub car park gets boring.
Adrian’s last hurrah with Red Bull before joining Aston Martin in March 2025 was to work on their 2026 F1 car—not road cars.
Shame.
‘It’s got 1,200 horsepower, a V10 that revs like a wasp on fire, and more downforce than an Airbus.’
