I don't think any manufacturer should be criticised for not agreeing to supply its engines to another team, why give a competitor something that might give them a chance of beating you? However, selling them an engine that isn't quite as good as yours might be good business!
Red Bull just needs to stick any half decent engine in for 2016 and then convince BMW to be their OEM supplier for 2017. DM nearly convinced Audi to join. I'm sure he can persuade the big cheeses in Munich as well.
From "Autosport" this morning: Red Bull will very probably continue with Renault engines in 2016. Rgds Red Bull on brink of new Renault Formula 1 engine deal for 2016 - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com
Your badge wins either way. However, in RBR's case, the engine builders with factory teams, know that RBR wants to be a factory team, no room for two factory teams, which means RBR will be walking ASAP. They will also be walking with a full knowledge of your engine with whoever they go to. I understand RBR's position on this, I understand Ferrari, and Mercedes position on this. Either F1 must present a table that more engine builders are willing to pay for, and RBR gets factory status with someone new, or else, nothing really will work out well.
My thoughts are (bear with me LOL) are that if RB made a deal with Ferrari they would be getting tried and true reliable engines. With that being said I am not sure if it is a good deal. I was under the impression that RB and Renault had already signed their deal? Now if that is true and RB can develop the engine on their own that could lead to a very unreliable engine. It's all very confusing.
Don't forget that after Luca Marmorini was sacked by Ferrari last year he has been consulting to Renault F1 and RBR so I am sure there will be lots of advancement in their power unit.. Red Bull will stay with Renault and I am sure we will get final word here in the next day or so..
+1 But I doubt they will enter as long as it's V6. In terms of hybrid powertrain development they are getting left behind: MB, Ferrari, Renault, Honda, Audi, Porsche, Toyota, Nissan are all racing these types of PU's.
+1 On top of that, Renault/Honda are a substantial lesson to anyone else who even thought about making an engine for current spec F1. And now, those companies have a few years experience with this tech under their belt too...
I'd like to see BMW rejoin also. What's interesting is that in the real world, BMW is doing just as well or better than anyone with hybrid tech in their road cars. They are doing incredibly well as a company also. Which begs the question - is the F1 PU even relevant?
No its not. Its overly complex. The world doesnt need that to travel the roads to grandma and shop on Saturday!!
What makes the F1 PU irrelevant is that all of the basic design was by a committee that generated extremely detailed specs which steer development toward making incremental developments to a basic design philosophy that might not be the best path to travel. In LMP we see Audi, Porsche, Nissan, Toyota and even Subaru with hybrid PUs. All are different, but all address the same problem and do so very innovatively. However each does so from a point that is in keeping with its own design philosophy. It is the bold innovation, tied to the real world, that is missing from F1, and that limits the appetite of many manufacturers to participate. The FIA regs were clearly driven by certain manufacturer(s). Had Subaru been as strong as Mercedes, the current formula might be based on their 1.6 litre turbocharged flat-4. Would Mercedes and Renault be interested in participating if that were the mandated engine design? http://www.racecar-engineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/upscooby.jpg
How so Andreas? Given the unprofessionalism of Red Bull throughout the entire season trashing their suppliers in public, I don't think the sport will lose any sleep if they don't make it to the grid.
My understanding was that Renault was one of the prime movers pushing for turbo hybrid power units; and that it was Ferrari that pushed very hard for a switch in the specification from 4 cyl to V6. But given how much some people complain about the sound of the turbo V6s, can you imagine the uproar over a grid full of flat fours? My god, it would be back to the old Formula Vee sounds again, with VW flat four engines putt-putting around the track. I HATE the sound of all flat fours, including Subarus!
Although I have respect for Subaru via their Rally accomplishment's I can not get over the old out-board John Boat engine note. I have thought about the V6 choice for some time and wonder if F1 even considered using VW's VR6 design? It is super compact and very strong.
If it had gone to fours, we would really be in trouble. The way it's going, turbocharge my garden tractor, add a wing or two, and it will sound as good and be almost as quick in a straight line (although cornering is very iffy, I have turned that thing over more times than I care to remember!)
Correct, done late in his career. An impressive looking piece but an underpowered lump compared to its peers.
