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Red Bull engine situation now 'very critical'

Published on 28 Sep 2015 16:52
2
By: Rob Veenstra

As each day passes, Red Bull's threat to pull out of formula one is appearing more and more real. "At the moment we have no engine (for 2016)," boss Christian Horner said. "The situation is very critical." Not only is the situation critical, it was also very fluid throughout the Japanese grand prix weekend.

As teams were setting up at Suzuka last week, it seemed a deal with Ferrari was close. But rumours suggest Ferrari chiefs including technical boss James Allison as well as number 1 driver Sebastian Vettel have successfully argued to Sergio Marchionne that only a 'B' specification should be offered. Red Bull says it will never accept that. "Mr (Dietrich) Mateschitz has been crystal clear," said Horner. "We have to have a first-class engine."

Dr Helmut Marko, Mateschitz's closest F1 confidante, agrees, telling Auto Motor und Sport: "The exit scenario is becoming more concrete. It is an insult to offer us 2015 engines when Sauber and Haas will get the one for 2016." Sauber chief Monisha Kaltenborn, however, said Sauber deserves Ferrari's top specification, insisting: "We have always behaved very decently towards our partner."

That is a definite stab at Red Bull's treatment of its current supplier, Renault, whose divorce from the energy drink-owned teams will be imminently confirmed. Mercedes' Niki Lauda agrees: "They (Red Bull) put themselves into this position that they must now go begging for an engine."

Even struggling Honda is not an option for Red Bull, "because of Ron Dennis" and his resistance, Marko revealed. And even if a potential solution lies somewhere down the track, Horner suggested time may simply soon run out.

"The situation was already critical two weeks ago," Horner explained. "For Toro Rosso even more. With each passing day without a solution, it is less likely that we will be here. Now the (2016) season is even going to start two weeks earlier, making it even worse." (GMM)

F1 News Sebastian Vettel Renault Mercedes Ferrari Sauber Honda

Replies (2)

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
Neither Honda or Dennis has denied that they could supply at least one more team, but said other team would naturally have to make do with McLaren as the prioritized team. It feels like they're saying that just to make it further clear that they wont have to take a Honda PU. I dont think they should get an engine of a better spec than the other customer teams, that'd be unfair.
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- Sep 28 2015 - 17:55
khasmir

Posts: 893
Nasty rumours, Vettel has been very sympathetic towards his former team so it would be hypocritical to argue they should only get a B spec PU.

But what is a B spec PU? If it means they just don't get the very latest upgrades io getting last years PU, that should be acceptable. But still, if they get the Ferrari PU as it is now or will be at the end of the season, that is still much better than what they have now.

I think Red Bull gambled and rolled the dice to split with Renault and get a better engine but seems like they have run out of luck. They are basically at the mercy of Ferrari and will have to accept what is offered or quit. Option No.2 would be a very bad thing for F1 so I'm pretty sure Bernie will step in at some point.

But it should be a lesson for RB, you can't just blame your most important supplier for everything and show no respect for them at all. Others will notice and think twice before working with RB. They need to show some more humility and maybe think about where they were as the team formerly known as Jaguar...

And what if (but I don't think it will happen soon) Renault's upgraded PU when they finally introduce it turns out to be quite good... That would be a serious slap in the face for RB.
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- Sep 28 2015 - 22:27