F1: Red Bull Racing On Verge Of Quitting Formula One
Ferrari and Mercedes refuse to partner Red Bull in move that threatens Austrian Grand Prix
Formula One’s politicking brought the disaster everyone has feared for months perilously close to reality Thursday night, with Red Bull on the verge of pulling out of the sport.
Red Bull do not have an engine for next season after its falling out with Renault, botching a possible deal with Mercedes, and failing to persuade Ferrari to supply them for Y 2016.
Bernie Ecclestone, 83 anni, F1’s Boss, claimed Thursday everything was sorted out, but behind the scenes he appears powerless to broker a deal, with both Ferrari and Mercedes unwilling to supply the Red Bull team.
There is also self-interest and fear, particularly on the part of Ferrari, who thinks a Red Bull with their engine may a quicker package.
As a senior Ferrari executive is understood to have said in private, in even more colourful terms: “Why would we want to screw ourselves over?”
The benefits to both teams of Red Bull pulling out are obvious.
Both would be in line for a healthy chunk of the team’s current share of the prize money, it is thought they would receive roughly $20-M each, and it would eliminate one of their main rivals.
It is reported that Mercedes have begun trying to poach some of Red Bull’s stock of talented engineers, anticipating their exit.
With the future of Lotus uncertain on fears that a planned Renault takeover has stalled, it could bring the grid down to just 16 cars for next season.
If Dietrich Mateschitz, Red Bull’s billionaire owner, pulls the plug, both the main team and Toro Rosso will disappear, costing 1,200 jobs in Milton Keynes and Faenza, Italy, as well as leaving 4 talented young stars without a “seat.”
These events has exposed how few friends Red Bull have in the paddock. Rivals have not forgotten their aggressive approach to shifting the rules in their favor in their 4 straight championship-winning years from 2010-2013.
Mercedes were particularly incensed when Red Bull tried to inflict the sternest punishment possible on the team after their illegal tire test in Y 2013. “They have been so arrogant throughout all this,” one rival team principal said.
Bob Fernley, Force India’s team principal, simply added: “Within 6 months nobody will know who Red Bull were.”
Red Bull’s exit would not only mean the loss of 2 teams, it also threatens the future of the Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg, funded by Mr. Mateschitz.
As ever the FIA president, Jean Todt, has been conspicuous by his absence.
The situation remains unclear, but Toto Wolff, the Mercedes boss, reiterated Thursday that it would not change its position on supplying Red Bull. Relations with Renault are abysmal, as the French manufacturer feels it received no credit when the team were winning and took all the blame when results turned at the start of last season.
Ferrari has offered to supply Toro Rosso with a year-old engine, but this is no use to Mr. Mateschitz.
Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team boss, will be locked in another series of frenetic meetings in the Sochi paddock this weekend, trying to find a solution before the Austrian billionaire runs out of patience. “My priority is trying to find a solution for the 850 talented, hardworking people back at the factory,” Mr. Horner said.
Stay tuned…
HeffX-LTN
Paul Ebeling
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