If it wasn’t already evident that Red Bull Racing and their engine supplier Renault are descending into what will eventuate as a chaotic divorce, then the words of disillusionment from the energy drink giant’s co-founder should solidify that.
The dismal showing at the organisation’s home event in Austria has brought Dietrich Mateschitz; a man of few words to publicly express his dismay at the current state of Formula One’s engine regulations.
Drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat were penalised 10 grid places each for utilising five components on their Renault-Energy 1.6 litre V6 turbo power-units – the limit this season in the regulations is four.
In terms of the standings, Ricciardo and Kvyat currently sit seventh and eighth, with a fourth-placed finish being the highest result attained by the team courtesy of the young Russian in Monaco.
That is indeed far cry from the three victories achieved by Aussie Ricciardo twelve months ago.
With a separation of the two partners who, in their soon-to-be 10 year relationship achieved four drivers’ and four constructors’ world championships, looking to be nigh – what does the future hold for Red Bull and their boffins in Milton Keynes?
Enter Ferrari.
It is common discourse now that the Italian marque, who are enjoying a season of revival this year, have offered Red Bull a means to continue competing in Formula One.
Let’s not forget that these two teams previously were at loggerheads with each other, fiercely contesting the championships of 2010 and 2012 in the latter part of the V8 era.
Nor that Red Bull along with their sister outfit Toro Rosso have had a strong link in the past, where the latter was supplied engines by the Scuderia for eight seasons.
President of Ferrari, Sergio Marchionne commented over the Austrian Grand Prix weekend that “I think they will find their way again and if we can help them get there, we’d be more than glad to do it.”
In response to that, Red Bull’s team principal Christian Horner remarked, “It’s very generous of him to make an offer – and I assume it would be for free.”
Within Horner’s sarcastic reply lies one point as to why a partnership between the two entities would not yield the success accustomed to Red Bull, and that is cost.
Currently, as Red Bull operates as the ‘factory’ or ‘works’ outfit for Renault – there is no additional cost for them to run their power-units. A switch to Ferrari would effectively brand the Milton Keynes squad as customers to the Scuderia.
Having their existence rendered to that of a ‘customer’ relationship with their engine supplier would effectively eradicate any ambition they have to attaining further world championships.
Obviously as a customer, the control of the power-unit itself would be in the hands of the manufacturer – ensuring that the customer product will never be as superior as the one being used by the factory team.
McLaren supremo Ron Dennis (despite his team’s current woes) stands by the belief that within this current engine formula, “no team is going to win a world championship in the future unless it is the dominant recipient of an engine manufacturer’s efforts.”
And therein stands the sole reason for Red Bull to not align with Ferrari. No matter what they do, whether they have the best chassis on the grid – their power supply will never equal that of the red car.
The ultimatum then is either the former world champions renew their faith in Viry-Chatillon beyond 2016, or face extinction all together. Under the current stringent regulations, it is difficult to fathom a new manufacturer wanting in, after witnessing the turmoil befallen upon Honda.
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