Formula One drivers Max Verstappen and Alex Albon test drive the Aston Martin Valkyrie.

Posted on February 18, 2020
Supercars
Formula One drivers Max Verstappen and Alex Albon test drive the Aston Martin Valkyrie.

Formula 1 team Aston Martin Red Bull Racing recently took time out of drivers Max Verstappen and Alex Albon's busy schedule to test the Valkyrie.

The hypercar is a joint development between Aston Martin and Red Bull, and it is no surprise that Verstappen and Albon were involved in its development.

They took turns at the wheel of Prototype 1 of the Valkyrie, finished in blue and red livery, with Aston Martin test driver Chris Goodwin in Prototype 2 and World Endurance Championship drivers Darren Turner and Alex World Endurance Championship drivers Darren Turner and Alex Lynn took turns in Prototype #3. A total of eight prototypes will be built and tested before Valkyrie's development is completed.

"The Aston Martin Valkyrie and its downforce levels are incredible and it looks super aggressive," Verstappen said after the run. 'It was a lot of fun.'

"It feels light and sharp," said Albon. It definitely lacks outward downforce compared to an F1 car, but you can still feel the Gs in the corners and it definitely reacts more like an F1 car than a regular road car."

Valkyrie was originally scheduled to begin deliveries at the end of 2019, but due to development delays, this will not happen until late 2020. This is because the Valkyrie will be powered by a Cosworth-developed 6.5-liter V-12 engine that produces 1,160 hp and, combined with a KERS-style hybrid system, sounds like a 1990s Formula 1 engine.

It also boasts a lightweight carbon fiber construction and trick aerodynamics developed by Red Bull's chief technical officer, Adrian Newey. The result should be a road car that is faster than the Sport Prototype and can lap a race track at almost Formula 1 car pace.

Unfortunately, the Valkyrie will be the last joint project between Aston Martin and Red Bull. Aston Martin is looking to enter F1 in 2021 with its own team, and the current Racing Point F1 team will be renamed Aston Martin Racing in 2021, as the team's billionaire Lawrence Stroll is also a major investor in Aston Martin The team is scheduled to be renamed Aston Martin Racing in 2021.

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