12/06/2018
NEWS STORY
The official deadline long passed, it would appear that as Red Bull ponders whether to use Renault or Honda power from 2019, the Austrian team is facing Larry David levels of indecision and uncertainty.
Officially the deadline by which time engine manufacturers have to inform the FIA who they will be supplying next year was mid-May, but unable to make a decision Red Bull has stalled, and stalled and stalled, and is now seeking to make the decision at its home race at the end of the month.
However, running out of time and patience, Renault is now demanding a decision by its home race, next weekend in France.
"We're trying hard, but that must be under conditions that are acceptable to us, starting with the timing," Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul told reporters.
"I don't want to start mentioning a date, otherwise, you'll start calling me that day," he added. "But I have a date, they know the date, but we are not talking about Austria. Austria, we won't be here, and they will be talking directly to Honda. They wanted an offer, we've made an offer, that offer has to be accepted in the next few days.
"I guess they have all the information that they need now," he continued, "and I don't see why they are going to further delay the decision.
"As per the regulations, the deadline was May 15, and then we accepted to extend that a little bit on the back of 12 years of good collaboration. But past a certain point, the offer we made, and that they requested, will not stand. It was Montreal that they wanted to wait for: our new spec, Honda's new spec. They have all the information, I see no absolutely no reason to delay that any further."
Asked if Renault might allow Red Bull until the end of the month to make its decision, Abiteboul insisted: "I don't think so, simply because we need to source the components.''