One of the winningest partnerships in the recent days of F1 is close to becoming, once and for all, history. After another season on which Renault failed to produce a winning engine – taking a step back after a solid 2014 campaign – the already rot relationship between the French and Red Bull is perhaps experiencing its last moments, as the Austrian team is once again linked to a new engine supplier for the 2016 season.
After being connected to Audi – Red Bull already has a relationship with the Volkswagen group in DTM and the WRC – earlier this year, the Austrian entry is now reportedly seeking a deal with Ferrari, once a fiery foe during Red Bull’s heyday, according to the German publication Sport Bild.
Dietrich Mateschitz’s team, who fields Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat as its drivers this season, was already supplied by the Italian engines in 2006, its second year in the series, and despite ditching those units to join forces with Renault – with whom RBR went on to win 4 Driver's Championships and 4 Constructor's between 2010 and 2013 – Red Bull’s second team, Faenza-based Toro Rosso, was powered by Maranello engines from 2007 to 2013.
However, for a deal to be reached, sources claim Red Bull would have to accept a "B-version" of the Italian power units, who are 20 to 30 hp shorter on power in relation to the 059/4 used by the factory team.
The relationship between Red Bull and Renault, which went through a bumpy road in 2014, seems to have finally derailed, as prior to a silent treatment posture adopted by both sides to avoid public exposition, the duo exchanged barbs, as this year’s performance – on which the Renault-powered entries have been widely hampered by the lack of reliability and speed from the French engine - became the centerpiece of the controversy.
As far as rumors ago, the breach of their contract (which runs through the end of the 2016 season), could be facilitated by Renault’s interest in running a factory again, and a Lotus buyout is speculated as the move that would make this return possible.
Ferrari, now established as the second best engine in F1, only trailing the dominant Mercedes PU106 Hybrid but ahead of Renault’s units and the Honda RA615H that powers McLaren, has longtime-partner Sauber and Manor Marussia its only clients.
The deal would also include Toro Rosso, who now runs on Renault power units, but won its maiden race when supplied by the Maranello V8 engines, at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix with Sebastian Vettel at the wheel.
The Austrian Grand Prix will take place on June 21. Follow @VAVELFormula1 for coverage of the race this weekend.
Pete Liguori is the lead Formula 1 writer of the VAVEL USA Racing section. Follow him on Twitter at @PeteUSSports.
