- Red Bull Racing toys with options for future engines.
- Partnership with Volkswagen, in-house program are hinted.
- The reigning Formula 1 champions presently use Renault engines.
VIENNA, Austria — Looming changes in Formula 1 engine regulations and comments from the reigning Formula 1 champion team leaders have triggered speculation that Red Bull Racing might develop its own engine program.
According to reports on the Austrian sports Web site laola1.at and other online accounts, the energy drink co-founder, Dietrich Mateschitz, posed the possibility of an in-house program or a partnership with German auto manufacturer Volkswagen.
"We are on standby for an interesting partnership, and even the idea of developing our own engine, I think, is no longer so absurd," Mateschitz said.
The champions presently use Renault engines. Even though Renault's entry in grand prix racing has been merged with the Lotus Group and rebranded Lotus Renault F1 Team, the French automaker remains committed to its customer engine program, with its engines lined up for three teams in 2011.
However, engine rules will be radically altered for 2013, with 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder engines replacing the present 2.4-liter V8s. The present engines are required to be normally aspirated, but future rules do not prohibit turbochargers or other forced-induction systems.
Under F1's "green" initiative, alternative technology such as kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) are also expected to be used.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner praised Mateschitz, saying, "With Didi's vision, anything is possible."
The 2013 F1 engines will be limited to 12,000 rpm, a one-third reduction from the present 18,000 rev limit and longevity will be of utmost importance, with each car limited to five engines for the season in 2013 and four engines in successive years.
Inside Line says: It's one thing to talk about setting up an engine development program and quite another to implement the plan, but Red Bull has boldly gone from sponsor to championship constructor in only six years after acquiring the former Jaguar Racing operation in 2005. — David Green, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
darkman_xxl says:
06:20 PM, 01/04/2011
@JHatmaker: I agree there is nothing quite like a whine of a NA V8 spinning at 18,000 rpm. But remember, F1 wasn't always about V8s. 4 cyl engines are nothing new to F1. They are simply going back to an old school system, with a new twist. I'll miss the noise, but welcome the technological possibilities.
jhatmaker24 says:
10:38 AM, 01/04/2011
I'm still in dis-belief over the use of 1.6 liter 4 cylinder engines in a couple years. I mean I'm all about the whole "green initiative", but I don't think I'll be able to feel the emotion like I feel when I hear a V8 wail down the track, when it's a little 4 cylinder whine...
I was upset when they went from V10's to V8's....
vhoyles says:
10:15 AM, 01/04/2011
Red Bull is not capable of developing their own engine to compete in F1. Especially when it goes to turbo-charged in 2013. It takes too much experience to pull this off. They will partner with VW IMO.
f1guy1 says:
09:32 AM, 01/04/2011
Knowing Red Bull they will pull it off. With Lotus stating a desire to develop their own engine soon, will we see outside engine manufacturers become largely obsolete?