Red Bull intends to honour Renault contract
Red Bull insists it intends to honour its contract with Renault for next season, despite speculation at the weekend that it was on the verge of a deal to secure Mercedes engines for 2016.
Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing RB11
XPB Images
A report in Autocar said that Red Bull was in talks with Aston Martin about the British sportscar manufacturer becoming a commercial partner next year in a deal that would secure it a supply of Mercedes engines.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has made it clear, however, that it is set on seeing out contracts it has with Renault and title sponsor Infiniti for 2016 – but admits everything is possible beyond that.
"We have a contract with Infiniti and a contract with Renault until the end of 2016," said Horner.
"Anything beyond the end of that agreement is pure speculation. Last week it was Ferrari. This week it is Aston Martin. Next week it will probably be Honda or Lamborghini. So, there is a lot of speculation.
"We have a contract, we have a commitment with Infiniti and a very good relationship with Infiniti, and anything beyond the end of 2016 is purely speculative."
Political upheaval only chance
Although Red Bull is understood to be eager for a Mercedes deal, and is hoping a potential tie-up with Aston Martin will help its quest, the chances of it convincing the German road-car company's bosses are slim.
As well as private concerns within Stuttgart about the way Red Bull has attacked Renault this year, there are believed to be historical personal issues between Mercedes chiefs and Dietrich Mateschitz too.
Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff admitted at Silverstone that only a sweeping political change within the F1 landscape could potentially open the door for any tie-up longer term.
"There are many things to be considered," he said. "What happens if Renault decides to have their own team and buy another team, will they continue to supply Toro Rosso and Red Bull?
"Who is going to supply them in order to stay in the sport? What does it mean for us? Until now they [Red Bull] were the enemy. Maybe there is a new enemy.
"What does it mean in the great scheme of things with politics and the balance of things?
"There are no discussions, no discussions ongoing, nothing has been started. But you need to consider all the options."
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