- Red Bull
Red Bull considers engine 'alternatives'
Helmut Marko says Red Bull is considering its engine options from 2016 onwards and suggests the team could even manufacture its own in an attempt to bridge the gap to Mercedes.
Red Bull's partnership with Renault, which has claimed the last eight titles in F1, continues until next year but has not matched the success of previous seasons in 2014, with Mercedes dominating the early days of the sport's hybrid era. Renault has been playing catch up with its power unit since the winter but still appears to be lacking in horsepower to the Mercedes engine, a lingering source of frustration in the Red Bull garage.
Motorsport boss Marko suggests Red Bull's fortunes at its home grand prix this weekend will influence any decision made.
"We will have a look at where the engine is standing after this weekend and then we will see what we can achieve with this engine," Marko told Sky Sports F1. "If we don't see a possibility to be on a same level with Mercedes then we will have to look for alternatives."
Marko says one of those alternatives could be a bespoke Red Bull engine but rules out becoming a Mercedes customer after 2015, with Honda also making an F1 return next season.
"We will not be asking Mercedes. But there are a lot of very skilled companies concerning engines. AVL is 70 kilometres from here. You should never say no. We are looking at all alternatives."
Marko's comments came after Horner told Sky Sports F1 that Red Bull's relationship with Renault was reaching a "pressure point".
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