Aston Martin wants to be more involved in F1

[September 18, 2017]  By Alan Baldwin

LONDON (Reuters) - British luxury sportscar maker Aston Martin is looking to get more engaged in Formula One, chief executive Andy Palmer said on Sunday amid speculation of a title partnership with Red Bull and future engine involvement.

"We want to be more involved in the sport," Palmer told Britain's Channel 4 television while attending the Singapore Grand Prix.

"We’re currently studying the 2021 engine. If we get a reasonable regulation that brings down the cost of the engine, Aston would like to be involved in the engine," added the Briton.

"And then of course we’d like to be involved a little more next season and then join the dots. But it really depends on what happens with the engine regs."

Red Bull and Aston Martin have an existing relationship, with the team's race cars carrying branding for the marque since last year.

Top designer Adrian Newey, whose Renault-powered Red Bull race cars won four successive drivers' and constructors' titles between 2010-13, has worked with Aston Martin on the AM-RB 001 Valkyrie 'hypercar'.

Media reports have suggested Aston could become Red Bull's title sponsor next season.

Former Nissan executive Palmer was a key figure in negotiating just such a previous deal for the Japanese manufacturer's Infiniti brand, which has now gone to the Renault works team, to partner Red Bull.

The British-based team currently use Renault engines, branded Tag Heuer.

An Aston Martin DB11 car is seen during the 87th International Motor Show at Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland, March 8, 2017. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo

Formula One, under new management since U.S.-based Liberty Media took over in January, and the governing FIA are looking at what sort of unit will power the series once the current agreement expires in 2020.

The aim is to bring down costs and allow a cheaper and less complex engine than the current 1.6 liter V6 turbo hybrid power units, one that could also encourage new manufacturers into the sport.

Aston Martin, a 104-year-old firm whose road cars have become closely associated with fictional British secret agent James Bond, last competed in Formula One in 1960.

The company is now owned mainly by Kuwaiti and Italian investors and is seeking to boost its share of U.S. markets.

Last month Aston reported its first half-yearly profit in almost a decade and it expects full-year volumes to rise by around a third to roughly 5,000 cars.

(Editing by Clare Fallon)

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