You don’t change a winning team, or so the saying goes. And Red Bull Racing’s collaboration with Renault isn’t only about winning – it is about absolutely dominating Formula 1 as the pair has almost secured both drivers’ and constructors’ titles for the second year in a row six races before the 2011 season’s finale.
So today’s announcement that the two parties have renewed their partnership, which started in 2007, for a further five years came to no surprise. Renault Sport will continue to supply V8 engines and KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) to Red Bull Racing until 2013, and the new 1.6-liter turbocharged units that rules mandate from 2014 until at least 2016.
The deal also includes the creation of a technical joint venture between Renault Sport F1 and Red Bull Technology to jointly develop new technical solutions for the new 1.6-liter V6 turbo engines.
Renault Sport president, Bernand Rey, said: “We are delighted that the Red Bull Racing-Renault partnership has been extended for five years, which will take us to a decade of collaboration. As well as being an opportunity to showcase the performance of the Renault engines at the highest possible level, it is also a fantastic arena to develop the technology and expertise within the Renault-Nissan Alliance.”
RBR’s team principal, Christian Horner, was also exuberant: “We’re obviously thrilled to announce this significantly enhanced agreement. Renault Sport has always been very straight-forward to work with, and together we have so far achieved 22 wins, 32 positions, 1,130.5 world championship points and two world championships.”
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