Aston Martin becoming main sponsor of Red Bull F1 team

West Midlands-based Aston Martin is opening a new advanced performance centre at the F1 team's Milton Keynes campus as they work together on both Formula 1 and road car technology.

The Formula One team will compete as ‘Aston Martin Red Bull Racing’ from 2018, part of a partnership that has already produced the sell-out Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar. Aston Martin is also looking at becoming involved in the F1 team's power unit from 2021 after being asked by the sport's ruling body, the FIA, to join discussions on future engines for F1TM.

Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer said: “Title partnership is the next logical step for our Innovation Partnership with Red Bull Racing. We are enjoying the global brand awareness that a revitalized Formula One provides.

"The power unit discussions are of interest to us but only if the circumstances are right. We are not about to enter an engine war with no restrictions in cost or dynamometer hours but we believe that if the FIA can create the right environment we would be interested in getting involved.”

The new Advanced Performance Centre, which will create 110 new jobs, will also house Aston Martin’s second dedicated design centre and engineering personnel who will be working on future sports cars.

Christian Horner, team principal of Red Bull Racing said: “Our innovation partnership with Aston Martin has been a pioneering project from day one. Having conceived and created the remarkably successful Valkyrie together in 2016, we extended our relationship this year and are now delighted to further strengthen the partnership and see the team competing as Aston Martin Red Bull Racing in 2018.

"In addition, more than 100 Aston Martin staff will service the new Advanced Performance Centre on our campus here in Milton Keynes and it will allow us to collaborate further with Aston Martin on special, equally innovative, new projects.”