Red Bull to Review Renault F1 Engine Deal After Canada
Red Bull Racing will wait for Renault’s planned engine upgrade at the Canadian Grand Prix before deciding whether to continue their partnership into 2017.
Red Bull Racing will hold off on making a decision about its Formula One engine partnership with Renault until after the Canadian Grand Prix, where a key upgrade to Renault’s power unit is due to debut. The team’s current agreement with Renault, rebranded as Tag Heuer for 2016, runs only for this season, leaving its engine supply for 2017 unresolved.
The relationship between Red Bull and Renault has been turbulent since the hybrid era began, with reliability and performance issues straining what was once a championship-winning partnership. After public criticism in 2015 and a brief split, Red Bull agreed to a one-year customer supply for 2016, distancing itself from the Renault name by running the engines under the Tag Heuer brand.
Renault’s works return and Red Bull’s stance
Renault’s acquisition of Lotus and full return as a works team in 2016 has shifted the dynamic. Red Bull management has acknowledged improvements in the engine’s performance this season, describing the situation as much improved over 2015. However, the team remains cautious, with senior adviser Helmut Marko stating Red Bull will only discuss a longer-term arrangement once Renault’s next development package is evaluated in Montreal.
The Canadian Grand Prix is set to be the proving ground for Renault’s revised power unit, with both Red Bull and Renault hopeful it will deliver a further step in performance. The outcome is likely to determine whether Red Bull continues with Renault into 2017 or seeks a new supplier. Previous negotiations with Mercedes and Ferrari failed to yield an alternative supply last year, leaving Red Bull with limited options if the Renault upgrade falls short.
What’s at stake for Red Bull and Renault
For Red Bull, the choice of engine supplier is critical to its competitiveness in Formula One. A satisfactory step forward from Renault could stabilise the partnership after a period of uncertainty. For Renault, retaining Red Bull as a high-profile customer would demonstrate confidence in its power unit and support the brand’s ambitions following its return as a full constructor.
Should Red Bull decide to look elsewhere, the team’s options remain limited by the reluctance of rival manufacturers to supply a direct competitor. The outcome of the Canadian Grand Prix upgrade will therefore be closely watched by both teams and the wider paddock.
For background on Red Bull’s previous search for alternative engine suppliers, seeRed Bull weighs Ferrari engine supply after Renault struggles.
