11/09/2006
NEWS STORY
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Sections of the media are claiming to have learned of a deal whereby Renault will supply a Red Bull team with engines in 2007.
Pitpass regulars will be aware that we learned of this some time ago, around the time that we reported that Mark Webber would be heading to Red Bull next season.
The facts are these, Red Bull want Renault engines in the back of their Adrian Newey car, however, the Austrian owned team already has a contract with Ferrari.
It had been hoped that because of the close, almost incestuous, relationship between Red Bull and Toro Rosso, it was assumed that it would simply be a matter of shuffling things around, as has been done in the past, seemingly with the blessing of the FIA.
However, Ferrari is not happy, it has a deal with Red Bull and intends to stick to its contract. Then again, we know that money talks, as does the prospect of having the Italian engines in the back of what we are told is an Italian car, the Toro Rosso.
Even as you read this, talks are going on between the various interested parties, Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Renault and Ferrari, and the outcome is fairly clear, it's just a matter of when the deal is done, and what the price is, and we're not talking purely about money.
Speaking at the weekend, Flavio Briatore said that the 2006 World Championship was being decided by men sitting around a table. We're not sure about the World Championship, but despite the (depending on your sense of humour) jokey press releases and 'wild and crazy' image, the Red Bull mob appear to have a clear cut, some would say clinical, view of what they want from F1 and precisely how they'll get it.
In Formula One for anything other than to sell the Red Bull dream... now, Scott, that is a big one!