The Red Bull RB17, the hypercar designed by legendary engineer Adrian Newey, has proven to be faster than a Formula 1 car at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The surprising revelation came from Rob Gray, technical director of Red Bull Advanced Technologies, who confirmed that this extraordinary machine is a project unlike anything else developed within the Red Bull group.
During simulator tests carried out at the Milton Keynes headquarters, the RB17 lapped Spa two seconds quicker than the pole position set by Lando Norris just a few weeks earlier at the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix. This data, revealed by Gray, highlights how the RB17 represents an extreme and unconstrained technical vision, far beyond the boundaries of conventional Formula 1 design.
The origin of the RB17 dates back to 2021, during the global pandemic. That year, Red Bull was forced to reorganize its racing plans and abandon the RB17 designation for its Formula 1 car, which was instead named the RB16B. From that circumstance came the idea of transforming the unused “RB17” into something completely different: a radical hypercar, entirely free from sporting regulations, created to express Adrian Newey’s purest technical vision without any compromise.
Red Bull RB17: a record-breaking machine
The RB17 made its official debut at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it immediately attracted attention thanks to its extreme proportions and cutting-edge specifications. Powered by a naturally aspirated 4.5-liter V10 engine delivering an extraordinary 1,200 horsepower, the hypercar also pays tribute to Red Bull’s early history in Formula 1. The first car produced by the team, the 2005 RB1, was also powered by a V10, in that case supplied by Cosworth. “It is a connection we really like,” explained Gray during Red Bull’s official podcast, Talking Bull.
The simulator numbers, as reported by SoyMotor, confirm the extreme nature of this project. In addition to raw power, the RB17 stands out for its highly efficient aerodynamics and the use of active systems. In fact, development was deliberately capped to avoid creating excessive downforce that could compromise tire management. It is worth remembering that even last year, when the RB17 was first presented, Adrian Newey had already hinted that the car would be quicker than a Formula 1 pole position lap at Silverstone.
The RB17 also carries a special significance: it is the final project conceived by Adrian Newey as Red Bull’s Chief Technical Officer before his departure from the team. Gray underlined the importance of this legacy: “We had all of the aerodynamic and design surfaces defined by Adrian before he left. The challenge for us was to take those ideas and transform them into a real car, ensuring that every single component was designed, engineered, and manufactured down to the smallest detail.”
Gray also shared a personal anecdote from Goodwood, revealing Newey’s relentless passion for engineering. “He was about to get into his Lotus for the hill climb when he grabbed me by the neck to discuss the next steps for the RB17. It was a spontaneous conversation, but it helped us clarify the challenges that lay ahead.”
With the RB17, Red Bull has not only created a symbolic project but has also demonstrated what becomes possible when the constraints of Formula 1 regulations are removed. The result is a hypercar capable of surpassing the limits of the sport itself, offering a glimpse of pure, unconstrained engineering performance.
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