May 13 (GMM) Red Bull looks poised to agree a new customer engine deal with Renault.
Relations between the parties has improved this year, with Red Bull – rebadging the units as Tag-Heuer – much happier with performance.
Daniel Ricciardo said recently a new deal is “likely”, but Auto Motor und Sport says the two sides are currently talking about price, with Red Bull this year paying a princely sum of EUR 28m.
The FIA is reportedly pressing for clarity about each team’s engine plans for next year within the coming days, given the new rule guaranteeing supply up and down pitlane.
Auto Motor und Sport quoted Red Bull team boss Christian Horner as saying a new Renault deal is “99 per cent” likely.
“Renault will continue with us because we are a good yardstick for the factory team,” he added.
Red Bull’s alternatives appear limited, with Mercedes and Ferrari refusing to offer 2016-spec units for this year and Ron Dennis refusing to give up McLaren’s exclusivity guarantee granted by Honda.
“Ron told me again on the return flight from Russia that there would be no engines for Red Bull or Toro Rosso,” Horner confirmed.