1
Red Bull did not push hard for a supply of Mercedes engines, the German team's chairman and F1 legend Niki Lauda says. Obviously splitting with Renault, the energy drink-owned camp is now threatening to pull out of formula one because one alternative, Mercedes, is refusing to work with them and the other, Ferrari, is yet to sign on the dotted line.
But Lauda said the perception Mercedes was simply not willing to supply Red Bull is not quite true. "I spoke once to Dietrich Mateschitz," the great Austrian told German television Sky. "I even went there myself. He said 'In principle, I would be interested' but there was nothing else. That was two or three months ago," revealed Lauda.
Instead, with Lotus set to switch from Mercedes to Renault, the German marque will fill up its customer roster for 2016 by inking a deal with Manor. So Lauda said the matter of working with Red Bull is now a moot point, as Mercedes "has taken a fourth team and so we are full".
Meanwhile, amid rumours Mercedes could help Lotus transition to Renault next year by collaborating with the French carmaker in the hybrid area, Lauda said he "does not exclude" that eventuality. (GMM)
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
V. Bottas
M. Verstappen
235,962 comments on Renault
26 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Renault
Bahrain
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Portugal
Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
France
Paul Ricard
Austria
Red Bull Ring
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Russian
Sochi Autodrom
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
Australia
Albert Park
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
Replies (1)
Login to replykhasmir
Posts: 893
First Lauda said they didn't ask at all, now he says they did not ask hard enough.
Come on Niki...