The Independent

Lack of viable engine could ‘force Red Bull out of F1’

- MATT SMITH IN ABU DHABI

Adrian Newey has accused Red Bull’s rivals of being afraid to supply them with engines for 2016 and warned there was a real risk of the four-times world champions being forced out of the sport.

The Briton, whose cars have won 10 constructo­rs’ titles, also criticised the governing body, the FIA, for allowing the engine-manufactur­ing arms of Ferrari and Mercedes to establish a de facto duopoly. “We’re possibly going to be forced out of Formula One – Mercedes and Ferrari have refused to supply us, out of fear,” said Newey, the sport’s most successful designer.

Red Bull, using Neweydesig­ned cars, won four successive constructo­r and driver titles with SebastianV­ettel and Renault engines from 2010 to 2013. Renault have struggled in the newV6 turbo hybrid era that came in last year, while Mercedes have been dominant and clinched a second straight constructo­rs’ crown in Russia on Sunday, with Red Bull lying fourth. “Unfortunat­ely, our relationsh­ip with Renault is pretty terminal, so we have no engine,” Newey said.

Newey, who has also designed winning cars for Williams and McLaren, said Mercedes and Ferrari had reneged on promises to provide Red Bull with engines because “they became concerned we would beat them with their own engine”.

McLaren could also veto Red Bull using the muchmalign­ed Honda engine, he added.

 ??  ?? Sebastian Vettel won four world titles driving a Red Bull car powered by Renault engines
Sebastian Vettel won four world titles driving a Red Bull car powered by Renault engines

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