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Red Bull has until the end of the month to decide between Renault or Honda power for 2019. Official talks between the energy drink owned team and Honda kicked off in Baku.
According to FIA rules, teams must indicate which engine supplier they will work with for the forthcoming season by May 15. It's not a strict deadline, but Renault says it needs to know for logistical reasons by May 31 at the latest.
"After May 31, we will not be able to guarantee the delivery of Renault engines (for Red Bull) in 2019," boss Cyril Abiteboul told France's Auto Hebdo. "We're already giving Red Bull two extra weeks."
Abiteboul said Renault is willing to keep working with Red Bull, notwithstanding the now official Honda talks and an often fraught collaboration: "After 12 years of a successful cooperation, we are ready to continue to work with Red Bull," he said. "The main problem is time."
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C. Sainz jr
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Replies (10)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Unless Honda makes a big jump now Im not seeing a switch, sadly.
Kean
Posts: 692
I think Red Bull will continue with Renault in 2019-2020, and perhaps we'll see Red Bull with Aston Martin PU's in 2021.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Lets be real here: the chance of AM entering is slim, and slimmer is the likelyhood of them being good enough for works Red Bull. I see Honda or VW as more viable and likely options.
Kean
Posts: 692
Yeah, they may be slim. Then again if the new regs include the MGU-H then the chances are slim that any new manufacturers will enter
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
It depends on how its done. VW are likely interested either way, as long as the regs are simplified enough, but are they interested enough I wonder?
mcbhargav
Posts: 1,332
for 2019, staying put could be a better of the options for RB, and Renault get to compare their progress against the best chassis.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
That isnt necessarily beneficialfor Renault though. Doesnt look pretty if a works team gets beaten by a customer.
dr002
Posts: 141
No, but at least they can be sure that their engine is being well represented and battling it out up there in the mix with Mercedes and Ferrari.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
I will be shocked if Red Bull switches over to Honda. Especially since they are actually quite competitive this year. Honda on the other hand is a coin-toss. I still think Honda are committed enough to succeed, but I wouldn't get to excited about them being on par with Mercedes/Ferrari until 2020. That is of course if the decide it's worth continuing to develop a Hybrid engine that will change significantly the following year in 2021.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Coin toss indeed. Ferrari or Merc? Hell no, that aint happening before 2020. But remember that they only need to outpace Renault to be viable for Red Bull. Easier said than done mind. But I think STR is a good place for Honda right now, since a team willing to take penalties to let the PU grow is rare.