Adrian Newey's RB17 surpasses expectations at Red Bull

According to Newey, this cutting-edge car recently outperformed expectations by setting a lap time a full second faster than the current F1 pole position record at Silverstone, when driven by an amateur in a simulator.

The RB17, unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, was already known for its remarkable speed, with Red Bull announcing that only 50 units would be produced.

The car's extraordinary performance, however, seems to exceed even the lofty standards set by Newey's previous designs for the team.

In an interview with Red Bull's Talking Bull podcast, Newey shared, "Admittedly, in the hands of a professional, it's capable of Formula 1 lap times.

"We had a customer, a very skilled amateur driver, in the simulator recently, and he was able to set a time that would have put him on pole at Silverstone by one second. This car has a lot of potential."

The RB17's development involved around 140 engineers from Red Bull's Milton Keynes base. Newey described his vision for the car, saying, "I aimed to design a vehicle that would be accessible to drivers with relatively limited experience.

"The idea was to create a car that feels benign and manageable, not too sharp or difficult to handle.

"As drivers' skills improve, the RB17 can be adapted and tuned, with options for different tyres and varying levels of downforce to match the driver's growing abilities."

As the Formula 1 season gears up for its resumption after the summer break, the focus now shifts to the Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort on August 25.

This race will be crucial in the ongoing battle for the championship and provides a thrilling prospect for fans eager to see how the season unfolds.