Redbull, Toro Rosso drama
DEMANDS ALL ROUND: THE ENERGY DRINK TEAM WANTS FULL FERRARI FACTORY SPEC POWER UNITS A compromised contract with Renault, two teams with no power plant for next year – but who is to blame?
As you are all aware, the relationship between Red Bull and its engine supplier Renault has become a rather acrimonious one. After the recent statement by the French manufacturer’s chairperson, Carlos Ghosn, Red Bull will no longer be powered by Renault next season, despite the contractual agreement to supply engines until the end of 2016.
Since the introduction of the new era power units at the beginning of 2014, we have witnessed the downslide of the Milton Keynes, based team from quadruple world champions to second overall in 2014 and currently in fourth spot.
The Renault hybrid power unit has certainly not proved to be as dominant as the previous 2.4 litre V8 engine and this has definitely hindered Red Bull’s fight for the title.
The press reported an approach to Mercedes had resulted in the German manufacturer refusing to supply, although Niki Lauda, non-executive chairperson of Mercedes, has suggested no formal request has been received.
Ferrari has been approached and has offered to supply the former world champions, but the deal is not one that suits them.
Maranello offered customer engines, basically this season’s power unit and not the 2016 specification.
Red Bull have refused that offer and are demanding full factory specification power units, which Ferrari are not prepared to supply.
I can understand using an engine inferior to the works version is not what Red Bull wants, but reports state they are demanding just that.
I cannot understand how they can demand and expect to receive the unit that will power the Ferrari next season. It was Ferrari that invested large sums of money and copious man hours into developing this unit, so why on earth does the Austrian team threaten to leave F1 if their demands are not met?
So once again we have Dietrich Mateschitz, owner and founder, Christian Horner, team manager, and Helmut Marko, team consultant, telling the world if the conditions are not met Red Bull will leave. This presumably also applies to junior team Torro Rosso.
But whoever is at fault, the fact remains at present neither Red Bull nor Torro Rosso have a power plant for next year. This is compounded as time slips by, the personnel at the factory still have to ensure the chassis will accept the new unit or whether it will require extensive re-engineering – most probably the latter.
You have to remember a modern F1 car’s power unit is an integral part of its structure and chassis.
Many online F1 sites are asking their followers who they believe is responsible for this situation and most put the blame squarely at Red Bull’s door.
It appears many have become tired of the continuous negative comments about Renault and threats of departure from the sport.
If you look back on the team’s results in the championship you will find they have had three seventh positions, one fifth, two seconds and four firsts.
Considering they have only been around since 2005, that’s not a bad set of results. Interestingly, since the change to Renault power in 2007, the team experienced its best results and since 2009 have not finished below second place, an impressive record.
But it all went sour. Renault’s Ghosn was not happy with the continuous negative comments emanating from the Red Bull camp and pulled the plug.
So far it appears no one else wants to be involved with the Milton Keynes outfit.
That I also understand. If the product is not up to the Red Bull standard, would the new supplier also face the public condemnation? Not an inspiring prospect.
So at the time of writing, nothing has changed and we could lose two teams, four cars, from the grid. Haas Racing will fi ll two positions, but it still drops to an 18-car grid.
It is rumoured Mercedes are already preparing for a three-car team. Heaven forbid – we could end up with a podium full of silver arrows on a regular basis.
The fact Mercedes has announced underdog Marussia Manor will be receiving the full factory specification power units cannot have made Red Bull any happier, but supplying a team at the back end of the field does not propose a threat to the Brackley team, whereas Red Bull could well challenge the current champions.
That, of course, would also be the case with Ferrari – so what will the outcome of this apparent stalemate be?
Reports are that F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is attempting to resolve the problem.
After all, he is contracted to ensuring there will be 20 cars at the start of each race.
If Bernie is involved, I believe the outcome will be a positive one and energy drink teams will still be with us next year.
Reports are that F1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone is attempting to resolve the problem