Mercedes rules out possibility of supplying engines to Red Bull

It feels like we're back in 2015. At the time, Red Bull was on the verge of finding himself without an engine manufacturer after having almost severed ties with his then partner Renault, struggling at the start of the current hybrid era. 

The Milton Keynes stable went to knock on the door of Mercedes, Ferrari, and Honda (then associated with McLaren via a factory partnership) but was rejected by the 3 other manufacturers, anxious not to equip such a dangerous rival. 

Asked this Friday at the Nürburgring whether Mercedes could consider such a collaboration this time, Toto wolff closed the door again, and this “ for several reasons ». 

« We will provide 4 stables including ours (with the return of McLaren to the fold of the Star, Editor's note), specified the Austrian manager. We are reaching a stage where we are not able to build more powertrains. We can't afford it. 

But I am convinced that Helmut (Marko, Editor’s note) already has a plan B and it probably does not rely on one of the current engine manufacturers ». 

A few minutes later, Christian Horner took note of Mercedes' choice, which left him with only “ two suppliers currently present in the discipline » on the list of candidates. The main Red Bull Racing team is of course referring here to Renault and Ferrari. 

Cyril Abiteboul reiterated that the Losange would comply with the regulations if the situation requires it. The specter of an absence of an engine partner for Red Bull at the end of 2015 had pushed the governing bodies to make it compulsory, for the manufacturer which equips the fewest teams, to make a propellant available if by chance a team found itself destitute . 

« Red Bull has not contacted us yet, however, added the French manager with a smile. I guess they have a plan A, plan B, etc. And I'm not sure we're at the top of their list ". The two best enemies in the paddock have indeed quarreled quite a bit in the recent past. 

• Ferrari does not close the form

What about the Scuderia in all this? Maranello supplied V8s to Milton Keynes during the 2006 season and also equipped Toro Rosso to 2013. 

« This is a subject that we had not considered but which we will look into now, recognized Mattia Binotto. It will be up to Red Bull to come see us to request an engine supply ». 

The Italian team principal added, however, that the timing was very tight to establish a partnership by 2022, especially since Horner wishes to complete the file “ before the end of the year ». 

Ce vendredi matin, Andreas Seidl, team principal McLaren et ancien de la maison Porsche que l’on a dit intéressée par la F1 and in discussions with Red Bull, admitted that he was “ unrealistic » to expect an external engine manufacturer to be ready to join F1 at such short notice. 

There is also the option of acquiring Honda know-how and intellectual property to continue developing the Japanese powerplant, the architecture of the V6 turbo hybrids varying shortly after the 2021 campaign. 

Horner assures that all options are open and Red Bull will take the time to explore each of them. But time is running out.