Abu Dhabi: Under-threat Red Bull’s team principal Christian Horner has confirmed they have signed an engine deal for 2016 and will be on the grid “unless something extremely untoward happens”.
“We’ve got an agreement and we’ll make an announcement in the near future,” Horner told Gulf News at the Formula One Eithad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Friday.’
It was later reported that the contract is with Renault with the team themselves developing the power unit.
Red Bull, who won both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships for four successive years between 2010 13, had threatened to quit F1 after failing to agree an engine deal with Mercedes and Ferrari and McLaren blocked a potential agreement with Honda.
Friday’s news comes in a week which saw Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz again question their F1 future, although the former world champions have extended several partnership and sponsorship deals. With Renault set to buy cash-strapped Lotus and become a works outfit again next year, Red Bull will conduct their own development of the French manufacturer’s hybrid under the auspices of engine builder Mario Illien.
“It is kind of gone full circle, they thought they had a Merc, then they tried for a Honda and Ferrari and got knocked back and a somewhat bruised engine partner is now supplying them again for 2016 and I think they will now allow others in to try and help progress the engine like Mario Illien of Ilmor,” former driver-turned-TV presenter Martin Brundle added in an interview with Britain’s Sky Sports F1.
Such a move would come after Red Bull repeatedly criticised Renault’s own attempts to develop their power unit, and indeed tried to walk away from their contract.
Red Bull are currently fourth in the constructors’ standings, with their drivers Daniil Kvyat and Daniel Ricciardo seventh and eighth in the drivers’ championship approaching the final race in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
