Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has confirmed that his teams will not use Renault engines next season.

After weeks (months) of speculation, the Austrian finally confirmed the news today, though it is unclear where his teams go from here.

"The separation from our engine partner at the end of the season is by mutual agreement," he told Salzburger Nachrichten. "There was no sense in working together any more. You couldn't put the teams through that any longer."

Mateschitz had previously said that unless he could secure a competitive engine he would leave the sport, a move that would see the grid drop to nine teams in 2016 once Haas joins.

Though Mercedes has ruled out an engine deal, Ferrari has said that it would be happy to provide Red Bull and Toro Rosso, having previously worked with both teams.

Indeed, Mateschitz suggested the Maranello manufacturer would provide an ideal (temporary) solution, saying it would be a "very acceptable solution for the next two or three years".

However, one rumour sweeping the Singapore paddock on Friday night has Volkswagen buying Red Bull and running it under one of its brand names, names which include Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bugatti and Bentley.

That said, for as long as anyone can remember, Volkswagen has ruled out F1, claiming that nothing can really be gained from the sport, though the company's attitude softened following the shock resignation earlier this year of Ferdinand Piech, grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, who harboured an intense dislike of Bernie Ecclestone.

Check out our Friday gallery, here.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by CB120, 21/09/2015 14:30

"VW has just been outed in the U.S. for circumventing emissions regulations. The fine could be huge. Will they want to buy Red Bull and pay the fine?"

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2. Posted by scf1fan, 19/09/2015 21:38

""Singapore qualifying . . . . " Just keep smiling Dietrich. ;-)"

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3. Posted by Spindoctor, 19/09/2015 7:25

"VW?
Anything's possible, but why should the company join a failing series that is likely to cost It £200m per year or more, for no obvious return?
Similarly they'd need to develop their own PU - I can't see Ferrari, Mercedes , Honda or Renault (if they're still around) offering to help there.... So that's another £200m....

Finally, and most tellingly, I can't see Adrian Newey thriving in VW's Corporate culture although money talks...."

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4. Posted by petes, 19/09/2015 5:22

"No. You didn't get that right.
Should've been - 'Someone dislikes Bernie. Great'...."

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5. Posted by bfairey, 18/09/2015 23:33

"Someone dislikes Bernie, great."

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Mateschitz confirms Renault split

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