05/11/2015
NEWS STORY
As Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz ponders whether he will remain in F1 beyond the end of this year, the Austrian has launched a scathing attack on his rivals, an attack that will do little to help his hopes of securing an engine deal for his teams... assuming that is what we really wants.
Not for the first time, Mateschitz has used his own Speedweek magazine as his official mouthpiece as he appeared to send out a final warning to the sport.
"We have had to extend our deadline for two or three weeks," he admitted, the original (end of October) deadline running out over the weekend. "But there is not a competitive engine for us anyway."
As rumours persist that the team will complete a volta-face and stick with Renault, the Austrian slammed that particular door well and truly shut.
"We have cancelled the contract," he said. "The reasons have been clear for half a year. Renault are not willing and able to develop a reliable and competitive power unit. Even after two years of development it lacks around eighty horse-power to the Mercedes and its reliability is of pitiful proportions.
"The disappointment with the performance and the posturing of the French are huge," he added, a comment that will hardly endear him to the FIA president. "Instead of improving after the 2014 season, Renault has further fallen behind Mercedes.
"There is no chance of a deal with Honda," he confirmed. "Firstly Ron Dennis has insisted on an exclusive deal and secondly Red Bull would probably come off worse if they switched from Renault."
All of which appears to bring us back where we started, to Mercedes and Ferrari who have both ruled out supplying the Austrian team(s).
"The factory racing teams fear us and know that we are faster than their factory team," insisted Mateschitz.
While the FIA is talking of a cheaper, independent (but how competitive) engine for 2017, having failed to secure a supply from any of the four current suppliers for 2016 Red Bull's options are way beyond limited, and Mateschitz' attitude is hardly likely to help the situation.
That aside, it is understood that Red Bull will finally use the updated Renault unit in Brazil next week, which might yet that volta-face come about.