Earlier this year, it was revealed that Hexagon MI is working with Red Bull Racing to accelerate the development of its Formula 1 car.
Now, a fresh report has delved even deeper into their technical partnership, and uncovered how 3D scanning is being used to keep Red Bull ahead of the competition. It turns out Hexagon 3D scanners, laser trackers, measuring arms, and CMMs are helping the reigning F1 constructors champions build and test new designs to demanding tolerances.
With Red Bull making over 20,000 design changes each season, Hexagon’s technology is allowing the team to ensure compliance with desired dimensions and FIA regulations. As well as reducing upgrade development cycles and costs, scanning integration has halved failure rates.
Given that F1 teams now operate at an annual cost cap of $135 million, this R&D efficiency has arguably been vital to Red Bull’s recent success – and it will continue to be key to its prospects.
Since 2021, the Austrian outfit has taken engine development in-house, with its Red Bull Powertrains subsidiary working alongside Japanese automotive giant Honda. Together, they’re building a power unit for the upcoming 2026 F1 regulations, which will see a significant overhaul in their current design and place a greater emphasis on electrical power deployment.
“With new regulations come new opportunities,” Jonathan Crankshaw, supply chain director of Red Bull Powertrains, told Develop3D. “By 2026, our first in-house designed, built and operated power unit will be on track. We’re trusting Hexagon to help us on that journey.”
Of course, Red Bull aren’t the only team to deploy 3D technologies on the F1 grid. SLA 3D printing has widely been used for prototyping across the sport for decades. McLaren is also 3D printing hypercar parts for its W1 roadcar. But as the first to integrate Hexagon’s technologies, Red Bull seems confident that it’s stealing a march on its rivals.
