Aston Martin May Become Engine Supplier for Formula 1
Will Aston expand its relationship with Red Bull?
After a successful run at this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, Aston Martin is looking to further its involvement in motorsport. Aston Martin could try its luck in Formula 1, according to a report fromAuto Express.
The automaker is now considering an engine supplier role, one that could pair it with Red Bull Racing. Although Aston hasn't announced any potential partners, it already has a technical collaboration with Red Bull, so it stands to reason the partners could join forces in this new way. Both companies created the Valkyrie road-going hypercar together.
"We are studying 2021 engine regulation changes and that might provoke us to supply an independent F1 engine if the conditions are appropriate," Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer confirmed toAuto Express.
Red Bull has partnered with Renault on F1 engines, but the relationship has been strained because its hybrid unit hasn't lived up to offerings from Ferrari and Mercedes. Recently, McLaren announced it would use Renault engines in the 2018 Formula 1 season, ditching Honda as its engine supplier.
Aston's engines won't be rebadged Mercedes units, Palmer says. It's likely the automaker will pair with a racing engine specialist like Ilmor or Cosworth, reportsAuto Express.
Source: Auto Express
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
Read More
