Even Max Verstappen Can’t Harness Adrian Newey’s All-Powerful 1200 hp RB17

Pranay Bhagi | 13/07/2024
Even Max Verstappen Can't Harness Adrian Newey's All-Powerful 1200 hp RB17

Red Bull unveiled its RB17 hypercar at the Goodwood Festival of Speed earlier this week. Designed by Adrian Newey, this car can travel at a speed of 230 mph, and even Max Verstappen cannot utilize it to its fullest, according to Team Principal Christian Horner.

While building the RB17, Newey utilized several components that aren’t allowed in F1, even though the car has been inspired by the ones seen in the sport. Among them is active suspension, something which the FIA banned from F1 in 1993.

“There are no FIA constraints and no cost caps,” said Horner to Autocar. “So, you can see the influence from all these cars over the years.” 

Highlighting how good the car is, Horner added “It has an insane amount of performance that even Max Verstappen would struggle to extract.”

Just 50 units of the RB17 will be manufactured, and each of its owners will get special track days to get the best out of the car. For those who aren’t seasoned drivers, an instructor will help them get up to speed. Even simulators will be installed at the Milton-Keynes factory to help owners understand the car’s handling.

The RB17 also has a 1200 horsepower V-10 hybrid engine, and the car itself weighs just under 2000 pounds. This will add to the aerodynamic efficiency, making it incredibly nimble.

Unfortunately for its owners, the RB17 is not road-legal yet and can only be driven around circuits. This is something Horner and Newey will work on in the months to come.

Red Bull prioritizing F1 cars over RB17

For a car as hyped as the RB17, just 50 units seems a bit too less to satisfy demand. However, Red Bull, unlike Mercedes and Aston Martin, does not have a different factory to build non-F1 cars.

Red Bull has to give priority to its F1 division to continue their successful journey in the sport. “That was one thing I was quite keen on: this needs to complement F1, rather than distract in any way,” Horner insisted.

Newey meanwhile, states that they aren’t just selling a car, but an experience as well. The owners will soon be called in and shown the cars as they’re being built.

Post Edited By: Somin Bhattacharjee
Adrian Newey Christian Horner Max Verstappen RB17 Red Bull Racing

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Pranay Bhagi

Pranay Bhagi is an F1 Journalist at the Sportsrush. He's been following the sport since 2010 and has been a Sebastian Vettel enthusiant since then. He started his F1 journalism journey two years ago and has written over 1300 articles. As an Aston Martin supporter, he hopes for Fernando Alonso to win the 3rd title. Apart from F1, anything with an engine and wheel intruiges him. In true petrolhead sense, he often travels across the country on his motorcycle.

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