'Red Bull terminated Renault contract for 2016'

  • Published on 23 Aug 2015 12:00
  • comments 1
  • By: Danny Sosef

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."

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • khasmir

    Posts: 893

    Rumours, rumours, rumours...
    We will hear it when it actually happens.

    • + 0
    • Aug 24 2015 - 18:28

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2023

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
31 - Apr 2
Australia
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
5 - May 7
United States of America
19 - May 21
Italy
26 - May 28
Monaco
2 - Jun 4
Spain
16 - Jun 18
Canada
30 - Jul 2
Austria
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom
21 - Jul 23
Hungary
28 - Jul 30
Belgium
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands
1 - Sep 3
Italy
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
22 - Sep 24
Japan
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
3 - Mar 5
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
26 - May 28
Monaco Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
16 - Jun 18
30 - Jul 2
Austria Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy Monza
15 - Sep 17
22 - Sep 24
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar