Red Bull engine situation now 'critical'
Sep.28 - As each day passes, Red Bull's threat to pull out of formula one is appearing more and more real.
"At the moment we have no engine (for 2016)," boss Christian Horner said. "The situation is very critical."
Not only is the situation critical, it was also very fluid throughout the Japanese grand prix weekend.
As teams were setting up at Suzuka last week, it seemed a deal with Ferrari was close.
But rumours suggest Ferrari chiefs including technical boss James Allison as well as number 1 driver Sebastian Vettel have successfully argued to Sergio Marchionne that only a 'B' specification should be offered.
Red Bull says it will never accept that.
"Mr (Dietrich) Mateschitz has been crystal clear," said Horner. "We have to have a first-class engine."
Dr Helmut Marko, Mateschitz's closest F1 confidante, agrees, telling Auto Motor und Sport: "The exit scenario is becoming more concrete. It is an insult to offer us 2015 engines when Sauber and Haas will get the one for 2016."
Sauber chief Monisha Kaltenborn, however, said Sauber deserves Ferrari's top specification, insisting: "We have always behaved very decently towards our partner."
That is a definite stab at Red Bull's treatment of its current supplier, Renault, whose divorce from the energy drink-owned teams will be imminently confirmed.
Mercedes' Niki Lauda agrees: "They (Red Bull) put themselves into this position that they must now go begging for an engine."
Even struggling Honda is not an option for Red Bull, "because of Ron Dennis" and his resistance, Marko revealed.
And even if a potential solution lies somewhere down the track, Horner suggested time may simply soon run out.
"The situation was already critical two weeks ago," Horner explained. "For Toro Rosso even more.
"With each passing day without a solution, it is less likely that we will be here. Now the (2016) season is even going to start two weeks earlier, making it even worse."
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What about : fiat,maserati, bentley, jaguar, lamborgini, they all have the engineering,capacity, and technical staff to do an engine program. I would guess, it would be like honda-mclaren, having rejoined, hopefully not in the way honda engines have performed this season. I thought along time, and it would seem possible, due to the finances of those manufacturers. Would anone else think it is possible??????
From Jim: With all due respect, you are aware that FIAT and Mr. M owns Ferrari, along with Maseratti. For Jaguar, you'd have to talk to India's TATA. I'm not sure who currently owns Bentley. With mergers and buyouts, it's not as simple as picking a brand, as they probably have a parent. For example, one RedBull option is Audi, owned by VW, but they'd have the same development cliff to climb as Honda, aside from all the diesel problems they're having to handle right now. Moreover, all the current F1 engine suppliers are scared stiff that RedBull will "learn their power unit secrets" and then transefer them down to Audi/VW in 2 - 3 years if and when Audi/VW come into the sport and RedBull cars.
Another sticking point is RedBull's Mateschitz's unwillingness to have nothing but the best engine right now; he's definitely no Ron Dennis, who has the patience to wait for Honda to regain their prominence once again. Moreover again, all the engine suppliers are scard stiff that Mateschitz and/or RedBull may bad mouth their power units if RedBull has ANY failings.
As such, I think spoiled brat Mateschitz should gather his marbles and go home. The best thing would be if he duplicated BAR Honda's demise by selling each of his teams for a flaming 1 cent each! Maybe Ross Brawn would then make another purchase or two and return to the sport again!
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