After returning to Formula 1 in an official factory team capacity, Renault now seems willing to continue their partnership with Red Bull Racing.
While some relationships are destined for greatness, others are definitely not. The thing is, Renault has already enjoyed greatness as Red Bull won four consecutive constructors’ titles, and that type of connection may prove to be more difficult to sever than we originally anticipated.
Under the Tag Heuer branding, Renault is continuing to supply Red Bull with engines for the 2016 season, though now we’ve learned that the French manufacturer is willing to extend that deal beyond this year.
“We have announced a one-year contract, but it may go further,” said Renault managing director Cyril Abiteboul.
“We have always said we would continue to supply Red Bull, or anyone else, if it is in our strategic interest to do so. It is in our strategic interests to do so this year, and if it continues next year, why not?”
Abiteboul also touched on the success of their old V8 engine by saying that back then “everyone wanted a Renault engine,” which in lots of ways, is true – though Mercedes still had better straight-line speed even back then.
While further discussing his company’s partnership with Red Bull, Abiteboul went on to confirm that any customer team powered by Renault will get the same engine spec as the factory team.
“If getting full support means getting the same engine as us, and the same upgrade as us, then yes, absolutely [that will happen]. They will have exactly the same. We have an obligation from the regulations to supply exactly the same equipment.”
“If we have an upgrade, they also have an upgrade. To be honest it’s great we will have another team that will be using the same equipment as us.”
Despite identical power units, it’s hard to imagine Renault catching up to Red Bull in terms of aerodynamics just yet. But the 2017 F1 season certainly cannot come soon enough.
Story references: autosport
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