RED BULL SCRAMBLES FOR ENGINE OPTIONS
Honda’s commitment to Formula 1 beyond the end of the 2021 season has long been the subject of speculation. But even so, its announcement that it would withdraw (though the official phrasing was “ending its participation”) came as a surprise to many – including, GP Racing understands, staff within the teams it supplies.
This is unequivocally the end of the F1 road: Honda boss Takahiro Hachigo declared during the official press conference that there would be no “re-participation” further down the line. Honda intends to refocus its considerable R&D resources, which for several years have been drawn into propping up the troubled F1 engine project, onto alternative low-carbon engine technologies.
Not only is this a significant change of tack for a company whose founder was passionate about motor racing, it has had seismic consequences within F1. For although Honda will continue through 2021 (and field an all-new power unit design), Red Bull and its junior team Alphatauri need to identify their next partner before they start serious work on their 2022 car concepts – in other words, within the next few months.
Red Bull has never savoured customer status, which is the rock upon which its relationship with Renault foundered. Mercedes has already said no, while the Ferrari engine is now considered the weakest on the grid after its Fia-enforced pegging-back at the start of this season. An FIA regulation stipulating the engine supplier with the fewest clients must facilitate teams in need may yet engineer a shotgun remarriage between Renault and Red Bull, but there’s another option on the table: taking
over Honda’s design and developing it with a new partner.
“Obviously, there are three current suppliers remaining past the end of 2021,” said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. “So it’s only natural we will engage in discussion with those parties. We’ve got a bit of time on our side to evaluate all the options. Inevitably, though, there is always going to be a discussion about engines when you’re without one for the 2022 season.
“Ideally [Red Bull would need to know] by the end of the year, because the engine forms an integral part within your 2022 design. So ideally by the end of this year, so the design team goes in to next year with a clear set of parameters.”
New Renault CEO Luca de Meo was present at the Eifel GP, where ‘his’ team notched up its first podium since returning as a manufacturer in 2016. Senior figures from both sides, including Renault team principal Cyril Abiteboul and Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko – Red Bull magnate Dietrich Mateschitz’s influential
“THERE’S ANOTHER OPTION ON THE TABLE: TAKING OVER HONDA’S DESIGN AND DEVELOPING IT WITH A NEW PARTNER”
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