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[Hamilton]

Red Bull considers engine options
Wednesday, April 22nd 2009

Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner is in no rush to extend the team's race-winning partnership with Renault into 2010, as it weighs up an engine deal with Mercedes for next season.

Despite claiming a 1-2 victory in the Chinese Grand Prix, this week's AUTOSPORT magazine exclusively reveals that the team is understood to be well down the line in negotiations with Mercedes, despite not having ruled out continuing with Renault.

"It's way too early to be talking about engines for next year," Horner told AUTOSPORT. "Hopefully Renault will still be around. The engine is performing well and, having been permitted the equalisation adjustments at the end of last year, I think it is comparable with the other engines in F1.

"You've probably still got Mercedes as the strongest engine, but I don't think the Renault gives anything away to its rivals."

Mercedes has ruled out supplying more than three teams with engines, and with a firm commitment to both works team McLaren and Force India, Red Bull would have to replace Brawn GP as the German manufacturer's second customer.

Horner added that there is no rush to finalise its engine supplier, as it is possible to modify a car design for an alternative engine at relatively short notice.

"As Ross Brawn has proved, you can change engines at the last minute - they're such simplistic blocks these days," said Horner.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74701

[McLaren Fan]

Renault's engines have been below par (not a bad little pun when you think about it ) and their commitment to Formula One is uncertain, so it's a no brainer for Red Bull.

[Frosty]

The Mercedes FO 108 engine the new Cosworth DFV?

[FerrariFan63]

The Mercedes FO 108 engine the new Cosworth DFV?

If you freeze engines, then the one leading engine at that time has an advantage maintained for the period of the freeze. If the freeze is enforced properly. From various evidence, it looks like Mercedes is the best engine, and therefore everyone will want it.

[texasmr2]

Renault's engines have been below par (not a bad little pun when you think about it ) and their commitment to Formula One is uncertain, so it's a no brainer for Red Bull.

[bud]

Renault's engines have been below par (not a bad little pun when you think about it ) and their commitment to Formula One is uncertain, so it's a no brainer for Red Bull.

well it appears Mercedes F1 future is just as uncertain as Renaults.

and just a thought could McLaren with their Arab money buy out the Merc high performance engines if Daimler puts it up for sale? Redbull-Mclaren maybe?

[Stealthgate007]

What about the engine supplier rules? If McLaren, Brawn, Force India, and Redbull all want engines, is it legal for Mercedes to supply them. I though there could only be two teams and Brawn was the exception. If they have to choose and they say well Force India is not competative so lets pull their supply and give it to Redbull.. See what I am saying. Does anyone know the hard and fast rule?

[bud]

What about the engine supplier rules? If McLaren, Brawn, Force India, and Redbull all want engines, is it legal for Mercedes to supply them. I though there could only be two teams and Brawn was the exception. If they have to choose and they say well Force India is not competative so lets pull their supply and give it to Redbull.. See what I am saying. Does anyone know the hard and fast rule?

yeah its only allowed to supply two teams and a works team. so McLaren counts as the works team and then two supplier teams. Similar to Ferrar as the works team then supplied Torro Rosso and Force India.

Brawn may use Cosworths in the future if they are cheaper. Redbull has money to burn on the otherhand.

[darwin dali]

What about the engine supplier rules? If McLaren, Brawn, Force India, and Redbull all want engines, is it legal for Mercedes to supply them. I though there could only be two teams and Brawn was the exception. If they have to choose and they say well Force India is not competative so lets pull their supply and give it to Redbull.. See what I am saying. Does anyone know the hard and fast rule?

Brawn would have to find another engine (Cosworth?). Force India is more like a B-team or junior team to McLaren/Mercedes with some special agreements between them while Brawn was helped out in dire straits as a 'regular' customer, but turned into the main rival for McLaren. Assuming Mercedes is to honor the special relationship between McLaren and Force India, why they would want to replace Brawn with Red Bull however, beats me - from the frying pan into the fire it seems competition-wise, unless they (Mercedes in particular) could somehow strike a deal that involves a future drive for SV at McLaren.

[bud]

could somehow strike a deal that involves a future drive for SV at McLaren.

good call Haug wants him there. and i do to!

[McLaren Fan]

could somehow strike a deal that involves a future drive for SV at McLaren.

good call Haug wants him there. and i do to!

+1.

[darwin dali]

could somehow strike a deal that involves a future drive for SV at McLaren.

good call Haug wants him there. and i do to!

'Problem' is that SV seems to be his own master (no manager, does his contract work himself with just one lawyer) and I simply don't think that he'd be interested in getting into some back room dealings if his heart happens to be somewhere else. And don't forget BMW-Sauber's alleged rights on him...

[Big Azza]

I don't think Red Bull would go for Mercedes.

I think they'd be more inclined to pick a Ferrari engine. The thought that comes to my mind is that they might switch over to a Cosworth next year. Or, what about, with Seb's ties to BMW - a BMW engine?

I like the Renault Engine. It's proving to be strong for both teams using it, and it's more reliable than the Ferrari Engine. But I also want to see Cosworth back in Formula One.

[bud]

I don't think Red Bull would go for Mercedes.

I think they'd be more inclined to pick a Ferrari engine. The thought that comes to my mind is that they might switch over to a Cosworth next year. Or, what about, with Seb's ties to BMW - a BMW engine?

I like the Renault Engine. It's proving to be strong for both teams using it, and it's more reliable than the Ferrari Engine. But I also want to see Cosworth back in Formula One.

they have already had Ferrari in the past! they wont go there again.

[Big Azza]

I know they've already had a Ferrari in the past!

Which means I don't think they'd go Force India's way and switch. With Renault winning the World Constructor's championship recently (more recently than McLaren) I don't think they're going anywhere.

That engine is great, unlike the Cosworth, BMW, Ferrari, Toyota... problems that have plagued Mark Webber in the past.

I'd prefer to see them with a Cosworth next year... We have too many Mercedes Engines and I don't like them having a monopoly over the sport. Plus, when did a Mercedes Engine last win the constructors championship, other than 2007?