1
Rumours about the futures of Red Bull, Renault and Lotus are speeding away just as quickly as the cars at Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday. Bailiffs are still swirling around the embattled Lotus camp, as the current owners hold fire on their problems while Renault is poised to decide whether or not to buy back the Enstone team.
The possibility remains, however, that the French carmaker will simply quit formula one altogether.
"If Renault does not stay in formula one," said Mercedes' Toto Wolff, "then there will be two teams that need engines.
"But if Renault makes its factory team, what does that mean then for Red Bull and Toro Rosso? There are a lot of variants that we have to play through," he told Speed Week.
The big rumour on Saturday is that Red Bull has already pre-empted the outcome and given notice to Renault that it is terminating its agreement for 2016.
Reportedly, Red Bull gave its notice in the middle of last week, arguing that poor performance justifies the termination.
For now, Dr Helmut Marko is not saying.
"The official answer is that until the end of 2016 we have a contract with Renault," the Red Bull official told Auto Motor und Sport in Belgium.
"According to our information, Renault will decide about its future in Monza. After that, we will act accordingly," added Marko.
But the rumour is that Red Bull is in fact not waiting, so that a contractual dispute with Renault could now wind up in court.
Mercedes is reluctant to interfere with that spat, but Bernie Ecclestone is believed to be pressuring the German marque to step up with an alternate engine supply for Red Bull.
Wolff said: "Politics in formula one also plays a role, concerning the overall balance of the sport and our position as a team. And with regard to the potential danger that exists in giving our opponents an engine."
But a Mercedes insider added: "Internal competition is good for business. If we want to be the best, we have to beat them all."
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
Bahrain
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
587,759 comments on Mercedes
54 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Mercedes
G. Zhou
Replies (1)
Login to replykhasmir
Posts: 893
Rumours, rumours, rumours...
We will hear it when it actually happens.