Renault will be powering more than its own team in the next FIA Formula One World Championship.
The French automaker, which recently re-acquired the team that had been running under the Lotus banner, has signed engine-supply deals not only with Red Bull Racing, but also with its affiliated Scuderia Toro Rosso. The deal takes effect next season and extends into the following, taking the three outfits through 2018.
Though more consequential given its performance, the deal between Red Bull and Renault hardly comes as a surprise since the team has been using the French supplier’s engines since 2007. After four back-to-back world championships together, however, the relationship between the two began to deteriorate after the new engine regulations were introduced in 2014 and Mercedes came out on top. This year the team is using Renault engines rebranded under watchmaking sponsor TAG Heuer’s name, an arrangement that is set to continue next season as well.
Meanwhile the deal will see Toro Rosso switch away from Ferrari power, and not for the first time. The team debuted under Cosworth power in 2006, then switched to Ferrari from 2007 through 2013. It picked up Renault engines for 2014 and ’15, then moved back to Ferrari this season, but will go back again to Renault for the next.
Aside from the Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault teams (which build and field their own chassis and engines), McLaren is set to remain Honda’s only client in F1 next season. Williams, Force India and Manor are expected to stick with Mercedes, leaving Haas and Sauber as the only prospective Ferrari customers.
PHOTOS
