Team expected to terminate Renault deal a year early; Companies involved in public spat over performance; Red Bull could now turn to Ferrari
Thursday 10 September 2015 10:48, UK
Red Bull have admitted they have been speaking to other engine manufacturers as speculation mounts they will terminate their Renault deal early.
The two companies have been involved in a high-profile and acrimonious public spat over the competitiveness of Renault's power units since the introduction of hybrid engines at the start of 2014.
Following another ignominious weekend for the partnership at Monza, where both of the team's cars received engine-related grid penalties, speculation swirled after Sunday's race that the team have told Renault they will not use their engines next season but that Mercedes were cooling on the idea of supplying their rivals in 2016.
If so, Red Bull would have to turn to either Ferrari or Honda to stay in F1, having dismissed suggestions they could build their own engines.
After being spotted in talks with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene at Monza, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner indicated he had been assessing other deals.
"Inevitably it is my job to talk with everybody," Horner said. "So you do your necessary due diligence."
Despite being underpowered compared to Mercedes, the Renault engine still managed to win three races in the hands of Daniel Ricciardo last year. However, the 2015 model appears to not only trail the Brixworth-built unit, but also the Ferrari engine.
The Renault hybrid has proved notoriously unreliable, with Horner admitting they only have "one and a bit with [Daniel] Ricciardo and two and a bit with [Daniil] Kvyat" remaining for the rest of the season. That is despite both drivers using seven internal combustion engines this year, with only four allowed penalty-free.
Despite in-season development being allowed this season, Renault are yet to spend any of their 12 remaining tokens. An updated unit is expected to be delivered in Russia, but with an apparent lack of faith, Horner admits Red Bull may not even want the new engine.
"It hasn't been confirmed to us when it will be and how much performance it will be either," he said.
"When we understand what the performance gain is we then have to weigh up is it worth taking a penalty for. We'll wait to hear from Renault on that."
Mercedes are understandably wary of giving their grid-leading power unit to a rival with one of the best aero and chassis department records in F1. Speaking to Sky Sports last week, Lewis Hamilton admitted supplying Red Bull with an engine could cost Mercedes silverware.
With the Honda unit even less competitive than Renault's, that would leave Ferrari as the only potential alternative for Red Bull.
The two companies worked together for a solitary season in 2006, while sister-squad Toro Rosso were powered by the Scuderia from 2007 until 2013.
Renault are expected to announce their future F1 plans at the forthcoming Singapore GP. Should they lose Red Bull as a customer, purchasing a team seems to be the French firm's only option if they wish to remain in F1. Renault have been heavily linked with another buyout of the Lotus team, and a controlling stake in Force India has also been rumoured.
