Beyond the Flag
Fansided

Formula 1: Renault not surprised by Red Bull Racing’s 2019 engine decision

By Asher Fair

SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 15: Nico Hulkenberg of Germany driving the (27) Renault Sport Formula One Team RS18 leads Carlos Sainz of Spain driving the (55) Renault Sport Formula One Team RS18 (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 15: Nico Hulkenberg of Germany driving the (27) Renault Sport Formula One Team RS18 leads Carlos Sainz of Spain driving the (55) Renault Sport Formula One Team RS18 (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

When Red Bull Racing decided to switch from Renault engines to Honda engines in the 2019 Formula 1 season, Renault were not surprised.

When the news that Red Bull Racing decided to switch from Renault engines to Honda engines on a two-year deal with the Japanese engine manufacturer starting in the 2019 Formula 1 season was revealed yesterday, Renault were not surprised.

Renault were not surprised upon hearing Red Bull Racing’s decision despite the fact that Red Bull Racing have spent 12 of their 14 seasons in Formula 1 using Renault engines. In fact, they have used Renault engines in each of the last 12 seasons.

Since Red Bull Racing arrived in Formula 1 in the 2005 season, there have only been two seasons during which they have not used Renault engines. They used Cosworth engines in the 2005 season and Ferrari engines in the 2006 season. They have only used Renault engines ever since.

Here is what Cyril Abiteboul, the managing director of the factory Renault Formula 1 team, Renault Sport, had to say about Renault not being surprised to hear Red Bull Racing’s decision, according to Motorsport.com.

"“Not surprised whatsoever, frankly. I think first we tend to forget this is a confirmation – it is more a status quo actually. Last year in Singapore we announced a comprehensive set of agreements with both the Red Bull group and McLaren.“This was featuring a termination of Toro Rosso at the end of 2017 and termination of Red Bull at the end of 2018, even though Red Bull had requested to be a bit more vague about that topic. It is more that it went in a different direction when Red Bull requested to us an offer, as there was a bit of indecision about which way to go.“For us it is more a confirmation of what was in the air, and which is also a strategic and commercial decision more than purely a technical or sporting decision from Red Bull.”"

More from Formula One

Abiteboul also stated that Renault are now aiming to make Red Bull Racing regret their switch from Renault engines to Honda engines.

There was certainly a lot of speculation that Red Bull Racing would indeed switch from Renault engines to Honda engines in the 2019 Formula 1 season, so the fact that Renault were not surprised when Red Bull Racing officially made the decision to do so makes sense.

Red Bull Racing indicated toward the end of last season that they did not want their engine supply deal with Renault to extend beyond the conclusion of the 2018 season, and this was indicated right around the time when Scuderia Toro Rosso, the Red Bull Racing junior team, announced that they would be switching from Renault engines to Honda engines in the 2018 season.

Next: Top 10 Formula 1 drivers of all-time

Will Red Bull Racing’s decision, which Renault deem unsurprising, to switch from Renault engines to Honda engines end up paying off in the 2019 and 2020 Formula 1 seasons to the point where the Milton Keynes-based team end up renewing their contract with Honda for the 2021 season and beyond?

Home/Formula One