Abu Dhabi: Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat remain uncertain over the competitiveness of their cars next season despite a new engine deal having been confirmed.
Team principal Christian Horner announced ahead of the season-ending Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that the team’s future had been secured following a new engine tie-up.
Renault — who have supplied Red Bull since 2007 — are rumoured to be back on board after the side were snubbed by Ferrari, Honda and Mercedes. However, the identity of the new engine supplier has yet to have been officially confirmed by the outfit.
Despite the relief of landing a new supplier and extending their stay in Formula One, both Ricciardo and Kvyat were cautious in their predictions for next year. “There’s still obviously some question marks about what sort of performance we are going to have underneath us in terms of the engine,” said Ricciardo.
“It’s obviously nice that we have something in place, and I’m sure the team knows what position we are in.
“I still believe that, if next year was going to be a big flop, we wouldn’t be on the grid. I would like a more competitive year than this year. That’s not a certainty yet, but it will be in time.”
Of the delay in confirming a new engine, he added: “I did hope that the process would happen quicker. There are several times where the deal was nearly done, but then it didn’t happen.
“The circumstances were interesting and the plan was never for it to be this late. I wasn’t worried that we wouldn’t race but I obviously worried that we would be uncompetitive again.”
Kvyat was also happy his side had tied down a supplier, but echoed the same concerns as his teammate. “I am relieved, of course,” he said. “As soon as it’s released, it’s time to work because there are still some inconsistencies.
“In one race I’m happy, in another race I’m not so happy, so we have to get on with the work. We are hoping to make a few steps forward. As long as we make them, we are going to be happy.”
Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko said the team had been “fooled around” when asked to explain the delay in landing an engine. “We had deals and promises for engines which in the end didn’t come true,” he said in reference to failed negotiations with Honda, Ferrari and Mercedes.
“I think it would still be very hard to swallow for them to get beaten by Red Bull- who are still not considered a ‘classic’ race team,” he explained of their reluctance to supply the outfit.
