Marko: Red Bull has to find a solution for its next-year engine this week-end

I thought they might try and get with Honda a whole ago. With Renault trying to be a world team again, as a team boss I would pursue Honda.

 

In any case, Red Bull is now on its back foot, and probably will never again be in position to challenge for a title.

Once his contract will terminate in 2020, I think Mateschitz will get out of F1. He doesn't want to do it now because of the financial repercusions.

Red Bull has been spoiled with success, and doesn't want to be an "also ran" team.

 

Considering the millions and millions a team like RB spends... I'm not shocked nor surprised that they had made demands on Renault and after a year... made them much stronger. Between a pathetic PU that actually went backwards from the prior year and a rule book that prevents testing and upgrades in a way that can make a difference... I think I'd be pretty pissed off too and don't know that I'd love sticking around knowing I'm gonna be an also-ran for the next few years.

None of us would be different if those circumstances were put in place in our own businesses. Granted... they could have handled it better but I only view that as better in a strategic way. They made a major miscalculation by terminating Renault ahead of securing a viable PU. I do think as a team they have every right to be pissed off because Renault let them down 2 years straight in a major way. I know everyone who doesn't like RB see it as "whining" but I don't hear whining. I hear the leaders of a very competitive team frustrated and angry at a situation that they have very little control over.

 

I realize that the current team Lotus was Renault in another life, but assuming that Renault wants to rejoin F1 as a constructor and Red Bull is threatening to pull out, why wouldn't Renault buy Red Bull instead? Four constructors championships on the trot, none of the Lotus debt/baggage plus Adrian Newey?

 

The whole RBR engine thing is unworkable. The best that happens is that they get a 2015 engine from Renault so they can be also-rans in 2016. And that is a one-way ticket to the second tier. And there is absolutely no indication that any deal they could make with Renault or Honda would change that going forward. So, why would they do that?

At some point, RBR, and even Renault, need to asses whether the damage to the brand caused by being a second rate team for the foreseeable future is greater than the fine to cut and run from F1. The RBR effort is a marketing ploy by a huge consumer product manufacturer who has undertaken that effort to burnish its image as a leader and to promote sales. Being embarrassed weekend in and weekend out does not justify the outlay. Williams, Sauber, McLaren, even Lotus are different, they are race car companies. And those companies have ancillary businesses that are complimented by their participation in F1. But, there is no technology transfer from RBR's F1 effort to the fizzy drink in the red and blue can.

 

Simple... can't afford RB

 

True... they may not be car manufacturers but it's hard to deny the impact they impart on sports... especially extreme ones which I would include F1 a part of. As a company they are extremely competitive and expect to win, or dare I say, expect it's at least plausible. F1 has become the worst bureaucracy. They make things worse at every crossroads and "fixing" things seems the furthest from the goal when you look at the decisions that are made. As an investor... why would you want to continue to be a part of that? I wouldn't.

 

Pretty sure when the rumours first started I read that RB's owner wanted 300 million euros for his team.

That's quite a sum to spend, only to spend yet more on 2016's car straight away and of course the millions and millions more required for their continued engine development.

 

Who cares..

 

Also Lotus still owes money to Renault, so not letting them go broke is a good thing.

The Honda option could not be a bad idea after all. They´ll get a lot better next year and Renault isn´t a winner anyway, so why not taking the risk?

 

Really?

The Renault power unit didn't get "a lot better" in it's second year so why should Honda's automatically make some sort of dramatic turnaround?

The only reason Red Bull would even consider going with Honda power right now is because they have absolutely no other choice!

 

Right, and Mercedes and Ferrari will not be standing still. So, for Renault to catch up they would have to make something like 4 times the gains they made from 2014 to 2015. With a token system that is impossible. As for Honda...the token system holds them back as well.

Maybe Honda should be allowed to use the same number of tokens that the other three have used since the inception of the new formula so that they would be at the same development stage.

 

Newey probably has an escape clause if the team is sold. In fact, I'd bet on it.

 

The position of Red Bull is that of a husband who wants to divorce his wife, whom he berated for years, but don't want her to leave immediatly, because he hasn't found a suitable replacement yet to cook for him.

The Red Bull situation is a self-inflicted wound, and I don't feel sorry for them.
Mateschitz, Marko and Horner are on an ego trip, and think reality will bend to their whim.

I am not one bit surprised that Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault gave them the cold shoulder. Who wouldn't?

 

It's just the opposite. Renault just has to wait for Lopez to face the creditors, rather than writting off his debts.

Buying a bankrupty is cheaper than acquiring a thriving business, and the seller has less leverage.

It's a cat and mouse game.

 

Spot on, IMO.

 

The Honda engine is limited by existing known materials, not inherent design flaw(aside from speccing unobtanium bears and insulation.)

If these materials can be developed, the Honda will be the class of the field with its current design. Its not a matter of design development, but materials development. Either it happens, or it doesn't. Either it suddenly goes bigtime, or it peters around unable to unlock its potential.

 

Red Bull in talks with Honda about engine supply for 2016, according to the media.

Would you believe that?

It looks like Red Bull is out to jump from the firing pan into the fire !!!

 

I wonder what Sir Ron thinks about that. Didn't Macca have an exclusive, or was that just for 2015? Might Macca have to agree to RBR getting Honda engines?

 

As with most things in F1, "it's open to debate".....

IIRC, Uncle Ron was supposed to be exclusive for two years (thru 2016). However, Ron is no dummy - Get more of those P'sOS on track and speed the learning process.....

It can't get worse, surely?

Cheers,
Ian

 

Nothing that a big check from Bernie won't fix