FORUMula1.com

[sagi58]

Red Bull a step closer to building engines
March 25, 2015 · by thejudge13

...The word put out amongst the Red Bull employees, is that these endeavours are related to a rather large boat project...

Wasn't Newey supposed to be working on some sort of a "boat" project?

[sagi58]

Red Bull and Renault ready to forgive and forget?

Red Bull and Renault appear ready to forgive each other for the poisonous comments and disagreements they have had over the performance of their cars so far this year.

Red Bull was knocked off its perch at the top of the constructors' championship by Mercedes last year as Renault struggled to match the performance of the Brixworth-built power unit. Based on the results of the first three races of 2015, it appears Red Bull's gap to the front has only increased this season, causing friction between chassis builder and engine supplier at the early rounds of the season.

Red Bull scored just two points at the last race in China (compared to eight in Australia and three in Malaysia), but rather than making the situation worse it appears the former world champions are ready to work closer together again. In a joint press conference with Renault Sport F1 managing director, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner insisted the two companies still have a good relationship even though he still believes some fundamental changes are needed.

"Of course you can always improve on every area whether you are winning or losing, but the partnership [with Renault] has worked pretty closely together, and if you go back to exhaust blowing there was a classic example of chassis and engine working in collaboration together," Horner said.

"Let's not forget that [Mercedes' engine department] HPP is 30 miles away from [the Mercedes F1 team] in Brackley. In Ferrari it's separate too. You've still got two entities of people and we still have a very good level of communication at a local level, I think there are just some fundamentals that need to be addressed."

Renault Sport F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul said he understands Horner's concerns and his company is working hard to ease them.

"There is no issue with Red Bull," Abiteboul said. "They are a team that wants to be extremely successful, they are impatient to do so and be back in a winning position as we were two years ago. We understand that and we understand their frustration.

"We are a supplier but that doesn't change the fact that we are also racers and racing people and we are also extremely frustrated. Having said that, it should be about understanding each other's philosophies and issues and supporting each other rather than dragging down each other.

"We want to deal with this and there is no choice. Maybe we need to inspire ourselves more with the way they are working and maybe they also need to understand the issues associated with engine development, which is not a short-term project."

[darwin dali]

ESPNF1:
[...]
However, speaking during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, Renault Sport F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul said the "marriage" with Red Bull is salvageable.

"We are here for the long-term but we are living through a tough moment," he told Formula One's official website. "Is there a better wife for Red Bull and Toro Rosso out there? I don't know. Is there a better husband - if it is in this direction - for Renault? I don't think so.

"This marriage has all the reason in the world to last. So we have to do a better job on-track, but we also have to [do] a better job off-track ... and maybe in bed also."
[...]

[sagi58]

At least, they haven't lost their sense of humour!!

[Jabberwocky]

So did he say that Renault was the woman in the relationship? A woman with 2 husbands!

[myownalias]

I would like to see a Mercedes engine in the back of the Red Bull, Red Bull always make really good chassis' which allied to the class leading engine, there could be fireworks.

[1Lemon]

I would like to see a Mercedes engine in the back of the Red Bull, Red Bull always make really good chassis' which allied to the class leading engine, there could be fireworks.

I feel that anyone supplying Red Bull engines now is going to go into it very aware that if they make a mistake they're more than happy to throw them under the bus, might make some marketing execs not happy about supplying Red Bull, particularly PR driven Merc.

[darwin dali]

Moved these posts from Williams to Red Bull thread.

[darwin dali]

ESPNF1:

Volkswagen is close to buying the Red Bull Formula One team, according to a report on the BBC.

The German car manufacturer and its brand Audi have been linked to a Red Bull deal several times in the past and BBC pundit Eddie Jordan believes it is now close to being finalised. According to the report, Volkswagen would buy the team and build its own engine for the 2018 season, most likely under the Audi brand.

Red Bull is believed to be closing on a Ferrari deal for 2016 after agreeing to split with current engine supplier Renault at the end of this season. Such a deal would allow the team to continue to compete while it waits for the VW-built power unit in 2018.

The finer details of the deal remain unclear, but Red Bull re-issued a quit threat at this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix via its motorsport advisor Helmut Marko. However, Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz added that a Ferrari deal would offer "a very acceptable solution for the next two or three years" when speaking to Red Bull-owned publication Speedweek.

Earlier this year Audi said it would be open to an F1 project after former VW Group chairman Ferdinand Piech, who was against the company entering F1, stepped down from the board. The BBC report claims that paved the way for Martin Winterkorn, VW chairman of the board of directors, to negotiate the deal with Mateschitz.

[myownalias]

Oh dear, Red Bull are now sniffing around Honda for power units for 2016; Ferrari said NO, Mercedes said NO and now Ron Dennis has allegedly said that he will veto Honda supplying engines to Red Bull... it's clear other teams fear Red Bull for all manufacturer teams to refuse to supply engines... will this end in Red Bull leaving the sport because of no PU!

[darwin dali]

Eurosport.com:

The FIA will announce a tender for an independent and cost-effective Formula 1 engine for 2017 early next week, according to Bernie Ecclestone.

An engine supply costs teams around £15m-£20m per season with the latest generation 1.6-litre turbocharged V6s compared to £7m during the V8 era.

F1 boss Ecclestone has long said the cost of the V6s are too high, while the FIA said earlier this year that it was an oversight not to ensure the money required to pay for a supply was tacked when the new rules were introduced.

Speaking to reporters in the Austin paddock, Ecclestone said: "The FIA will put out a press release on Monday or Tuesday.

"[The engines] will probably have more power, probably use more fuel.

"It means I suppose there will be some regulation changes, which has already been anticipated for 2017 anyway, so there is nothing new."

With regards the claim that the move is a bid to force other manufacturers to reduce the current supply cost, Ecclestone said: "Not really, its very simple. If we don't, we'll probably lose a few teams.

"It's nothing to do with us what people charge. We have no control, and don't want it.

"They can charge what they like. What is being introduced will be an awful lot cheaper than what it currently costs."

Ecclestone said "there's a couple [of interested parties] on the horizon", adding Cosworth is one of them, and he is confident the independent unit would be competitive.

When asked for his thoughts that the four engine manufacturers currently involved in F1 - Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault and Honda - would be disappointed considering the money they have spent on the current generation engines, Ecclestone said: "The money they spent, the R&D they spent - it was for their road cars.

"They got more out of it for their road cars they say."

Ecclestone said he did not believe the introduction of an independent engine would see Formula 1 become a two-tier championship.

"We used to have people running turbo engines and people running normally-aspirated," he said.

"That wasn't a two-tier system. It was a choice.

"Whatever it is, I anticipate they will continue running their engine and the others the other engine."

[darwin dali]

ESPNF1:

Christian Horner has confirmed Red Bull was in talks with Volkswagen about a future partnership before the German manufacturer became embroiled in emissions testing controversy.

During the Singapore Grand Prix weekend the Red Bull--Volkswagen link resurfaced after the Milton Keynes team threatened to quit if it was not offered 2016 engine parity by Ferrari. In the weeks following the Singapore race it was revealed Volkswagen had been cheating on diesel emissions tests and Horner admits that scandal makes a partnership in the near future unlikely.

"Of course it is publicly known that there have been discussions with the VW group, but obviously with their current issues F1 is the last thing on their mind," Horner said. "There were other discussions,that will become apparent no doubt in the future as well, and other promises that were made. There is an awful lot of speculation and conjecture at the moment, but once everything is finalised everything will become extremely clear."

The "promises that were made" is likely a reference to Mercedes, who eventually turned down giving Red Bull its engines next year after seriously considering it. During the Friday press conference in Austin Horner made pointed reference to that -- and Ferrari's reported refusal -- by pondering whether the EU investigation triggered by Sauber and Force India's complaint about revenue shares would consider refusing to supply a team with an engine "anti-competition".

Red Bull's current lack of a 2016 engine has left it facing the prospect of tying to return to Renault power next season despite its spectacular falling-out this year, though Honda has become the latest manufacturer linked with a supply deal. Renault is currently in takeover talks with Lotus and Horner suggests the outcome of that will make Red Bull's situation clearer.

"Obviously discussions have been going on with Renault to understand what their plans are for next year. Until they commit to be in F1 or not, it is difficult at this stage to take it any further. We have an agreement with Renault that runs until the end of next year, about which there has been a lot of speculation. I am sure there will be confirmation of that agreement in the coming days."

Though admitting Red Bull quitting F1 is still an option owner Dietrich Mateschitz, Horner clarified: "For me it's not an option, we have to find a solution. I'm working very hard to make sure the team is on the grid for next year and beyond."

Horner refused to be drawn on whether he would personally intervene to save the team in a similar fashion to Ross Brawn when Honda pulled out of F1 suddenly at the end of 2008.

[darwin dali]

ESPNF1:
Red Bull has dropped a playful hint about the potential name of its engine for 2016 which may not go down to well in certain offices of the McLaren Technology Centre.

In Abu Dhabi Red Bull finally confirmed it had signed an engine contract for 2016, which is expected to be announced this week as a renegotiated Renault deal minus the French manufacturer's branding. When asked about the name of Red Bull's new engine in Abu Dhabi, Horner told the BBC : "Wait and see what it is called, it will be something quite good. I don't think Ron Dennis will be too happy, but then he has not been very happy recently."

Some took that to be a hint the team would brand the engine with the name of its newest sponsor, TAG Heuer, which recently confirmed it has joined Red Bull after a 30-year affiliation with McLaren. That McLaren partnership included five seasons where the team ran Porsche engines branded as TAG, which powered the team to two constructors' championships and three drivers' championships in the 1980s.

Dennis recently revealed he told Horner to "suck it up" over his decision to block Honda supplying Red Bull with engines next season. However, McLaren's CEO may well need to do the same if Red Bull's hint turns in to a reality for 2016.

On Thursday Red Bull tweeted a picture of a coverless Red Bull with the message: "Swiss engineering to close the gap next season", a reference to the team's struggles with Renault in 2014 and 2015.

[sagi58]

Red Bull 'acted correctly' in Max Verstappen's F1 car ski stunt

Red Bull is adamant it acted correctly in organising Max Verstappen's ski-slope stunt in one of its world championship-winning Formula 1 cars.

Earlier this month Verstappen caused a stir as he took part in the Hahnenkamm festival at the Kitzbuhel ski resort.

The Toro Rosso driver hit the slopes in an RB7 complete with studded Pirelli tyres encased in snow chains, and with the engine retuned to specifically cope with the conditions.

It was later suggested by local authorities the event took place without an official permit, and that Red Bull faced a fine of €30,000.

Kitzbuhel director Michael Berger claimed that to drive any car outside of traffic or fenced areas, due to potential damage to nature, first requires permission that was not sought.

In a statement issued to Autosport, Red Bull Austria insists such measures were taken.

The statement read: "From our standpoint we acted correctly. We do not wish to comment any further on the ongoing proceedings."

After driving the car in front of 3500 fans, Verstappen described the innovative promotional run as "very special".

[sagi58]

Watch how Max Verstappen and Aksel Lund Svindal compete to be the fastest on top of Hahnenkamm mountain.