Currently, the hottest topic of discussion and speculation in F1 is the engine situation at Red Bull post-2021 after Honda announced that they would be leaving the sport by then. Many options have been suggested including going with one of the other three engine suppliers in F1 but these engine suppliers have now made statements that suggest that Red Bull might be heading in a different direction Link to poll:
0:00 - Is Red Bull Formulating A Master Plan?
1:54 - Fast Feed
I'm your host Dillon Shelley and first up on Formula World:
Is Red Bull Formulating A Master Plan?
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff took Mercedes out of the running
“No. For various reasons, but the main being that we are supplying four teams, including us. We are almost in a state that we can't make power units for all of us, so there is no capacity”
He further feels that Red Bull will in all likelihood not need their engines anyway
”But, I have no doubt that Helmut [Marko] will have a plan B, as he said, and probably doesn’t need to rely on any of the current power unit suppliers”
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto stayed non-committal
“We're not considering it. It's something we need to start considering now. I think we have not decided. First, I think it will be down to Red Bull, eventually, to look at us and ask for a supply”
Renault has been touted as the most likely option for Red Bull but Renault’s managing director Cyril Abiteboul feels otherwise
“I can confirm that I have not been contacted by Red Bull in relation to engine supply. As Toto has said, I can't imagine that they don't have a Plan A or Plan B, and I think we are very far in the pecking order of the alphabet before they call us again”
Many see this lack of interest from Red Bull in approaching any of these engine manufacturers so far as a sign that they have a feasible alternative up their sleeves
Some have been pointing at a statement the team’s advisor Helmut Marko made during an interview with Auto Motor Und Sport as a clear sign of this
“If you were to bring forward the new engine regulation, that would be the very best”
The latest rumor floating around is that Red Bull are looking to lure in one of Mugen, Ilmor, or Cosworth to take over Honda F1’s factory and make engines on their behalf
Fast Feed
Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas accepts that “it’s going to be a tricky and pretty special weekend with these conditions but definitely” he’ll “try to make the most out of it with a good positive momentum”
AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly feels that given where Honda “are now, they could have been world champions within three years”
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has confirmed that they did express their “disagreement with the possible assignment of Toto Wolff as CEO of Formula 1”
His driver Charles Leclerc has joked that “with so many warm clothes it really feels like” they “are going skiing this weekend”
He also thinks that “it's going to be really hard for everyone, for the drivers and the teams to make the tires work, that will be really hard”
Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen has stated that he “wouldn't be here today if” he “wasn't enjoying it anymore” as he “can do other things too”
He also sees Mick Schumacher as “a copy of his father [Michael Schumacher] in many ways” and added that “it’s great to see him”
Defending champion Lewis Hamilton feels that Honda’s departure shows that F1 still has “a long way to go to have a more positive impact on the planet”
He also stated that “the world doesn't need a new circuit. There are plenty of great tracks” in response to rumors of a new race track being planned in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
He also added that he has “heard that it may be a sustainable race, but the most sustainable thing would be not to cut down trees for it. Certainly not at a time when we are fighting a pandemic”
McLaren’s Carlos Sainz feels that “everything Red Bull does works. They bring talent into Formula 1”
He also feels that “they have to be tough” on these drivers. “After all, they pay for the careers of a lot of drivers, support them and give them a chance”
Do you think Red Bull are planning to supply their own engines in some capacity?
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