2016 will be a “year of transition” for Red Bull’s two F1 teams, official Dr Helmut Marko has declared.<\/p>\n
“We are keeping both teams in formula one,” he announced in Germany’s Sport Bild.<\/p>\n
The energy drink company’s road to 2016 has been long and complex, with Red Bull expected to use Infiniti-branded Renault power while Toro Rosso switches to 2015-spec Ferrari engines.<\/p>\n
But then in 2017, it will be all change.<\/p>\n
To coincide with the introduction of radically faster chassis regulations, F1’s governing FIA and Bernie Ecclestone are pushing ahead with plans to sign up an exclusive supplier of alternative twin-turbo V6 engines to arrive in 2017.<\/p>\n
The tender process was launched on Friday, with interested parties like Ilmor or Cosworth invited to apply by 23 November.<\/p>\n
The first customer in line is Red Bull.<\/p>\n
“2016 will be a year of transition for us,” said Marko.\u00a0 “In 2017 we expect the alternative engine.\u00a0 Both Jean Todt and Bernie Ecclestone have assured us.<\/p>\n
“It will be cheaper and make us independent from the car manufacturers.”<\/p>\n
Red Bull is therefore putting itself strongly on the side of the FIA and Ecclestone, with the ‘client engine’ plans opposed staunchly by the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes.<\/p>\n
“It (the alternative engine) was the condition for us to stay in formula one,” Marko admitted to Auto Motor und Sport.<\/p>\n
The next strategy group meeting is scheduled for November 24, one day after the deadline for expressions of interest in the role of independent ‘alternative engine’ supplier.<\/p>\n
It is expected to be explosive, with the existing manufacturers preparing arguments against the proposal on the grounds of their contracts with the FIA and Ecclestone.<\/p>\n
“Some people think they are super-smart,” said Ecclestone, “but we are not stupid.”<\/p>\n
Auto Motor und Sport said Ferrari is devising a peace offering in the form of allowing customers to base a more affordable engine on its existing ‘power unit’, to be sold under the Alfa Romeo brand.<\/p>\n
\u00a9 RIF | GMM<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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