Much has already been written and said about the future of Red Bull in the sport now that it has become known that engine supplier Honda is going to leave the sport. At the end of 2021, the Japanese want to close the Formula 1 door behind them, leaving the team of Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon in a difficult position.
That Red Bull would prefer to see one scenario unfold for the years after 2021, they have already shown several times. If it is up to Helmut Marko and associates, they will take over the intellectual property of Honda and continue with the same power sources under their own management. In this way, the team no longer has to depend on another engine supplier and go through life as a customer team.
However, that scenario does come with some conditions, because Red Bull wants a so-called development stop to be introduced after 2021. Because developing the engines in-house is very expensive, Marko only sees the point of taking over the intellectual property from Honda if Red Bull does not have to further develop the engine and only needs to maintain it.
Initially, this met with opposition from the other engine suppliers. Ferrari and Renault in particular did not see a development stop, because they were still behind compared to Mercedes, which would be blocked in the event of a development stop. Not handy for Red Bull, which needed the support of those parties if it wanted to pursue its own plan. The team’s management then announced that leaving the sport would also be an option.
Whether it will come to that, that is still very much the question. Red Bull has set a deadline internally for finding a solution. That deadline ends in a week. According to Christian Horner and co. a solution has been found for the problem that will arise at the end of 2021. Time is therefore ticking fast, very fast.
In the background, extensive negotiations are currently underway about a development stop and the associated conditions. At the end of 2021, Marko wanted the development of the engine to be halted, but last week he already hinted at a compromise. Ferrari and Renault would be accommodated according to the latest reports and a final new engine version may be introduced in early 2022.
In that scenario, all parties would be (relatively) happy with the outcome. Red Bull can continue with the Honda engine, or at least with the intellectual property of the Japanese, and the other engine suppliers can make a final update in early 2022 and thus have their brains over 2021 about improvements to the power source.
If Red Bull cannot come to an agreement with the other engine suppliers, it will be exciting, because it could have a major influence on the team, star driver Verstappen and the entire sport. Will Red Bull actually rather leave the sport than switch to Renault engines? If they do switch to another engine, they need to know quickly so that the chassis for the all-new 2022 car can be adapted accordingly. Never nice for the chances of Red Bull if they now have to change some plans for that season, but if they know within now and a week that they are ready, then the damage may still be manageable.
We will undoubtedly hear more news from the Verstappen team soon. Until then we wait anxiously.
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