23/06/2006
NEWS STORY
Ever since Flavio Briatore revealed that Renault was keen to supply engines to a non-works team, there has been speculation as to who might take the French manufacturer up on its offer.
Several teams have been linked with a possible deal but as the smoke clears it appears Red Bull is the favourite to take Briatore up on his offer.
Of course, Red Bull has a deal with Ferrari, however that contract doesn't specify exactly which cars the Italian team's engines have to be placed in. Therefore, the most likely scenario is that Red Bull will hand over its Ferrari powerplants to Toro Rosso, thereby creating an all-Italian team, well sort of.
This would leave Red Bull free to place the bullet-proof Renault units in the back of the RBR3, the first Adrian Newey penned car for the Austrian owned team.
Assuming the Kimi Raikkonen deal goes in favour of the French team, expect to see Heikki Kovalainen in the second Red Bull race seat, though the Finn would almost certainly continue to test for Renault.