Red Bull won’t use Renault in 2016

The thinking behind the move is Mercedes has waited 60 years to find itself in such a position back at the top of F1, and it has no intention of helping out a team with Red Bull’s resources become a serious challenger to its success. A winding up petition issued in the High Court by Revenue and Customs has been adjourned until September 18, the Friday of the upcoming Singapore GP, and the wait goes on for Renault to complete their long-anticipated takeover of the financially-crippled Enstone team.

Williams said they had no preferential terms with Mercedes, who treated all their customer teams with parity.

After two years of being uncompetitive, Red Bull and their billionaire owner, Dietrich Mateschitz, have lost patience with Renault.

“To get eighth was like a podium for us”.

“From a team perspective you have to have a no-prisoners approach and look in an opportunistic approach”, said the Austrian. “So, hopefully something will be forthcoming in the near future”.

Meanwhile, Ferrari have upgraded their engine for their home race, and Mercedes have revealed that they have used all seven of their remaining development tokens to update their power unit too.

Daniel Ricciardo, however, said: “No matter what is promised to us, I will believe in more power only when I feel it in the auto”. This is apparently going to be accepted by Renault.

Maurizio Arrivabene, Ferrari’s team principal, has repeatedly expressed his willingness to supply Red Bull in the spirit of competition.

However, Ferrari, who now supply Sauber & Manor with versions of their V6, have welcomed the idea of supplying a competitor.

“In theory they have big names, with Newey as chief designer and it is easy to think that if you give them the engine they will build a scary chassis, which means they will be really competitive”.

Then judging from the treatment of the rival team with Renault now, Mercedes is afraid of the negative publicity that would result if it ever beats Red Bull, and the energy drink brand starts complaining about not getting its fair share of treatment from its engine supplier.