Skip to main content

Did the VW diesel scandal kill an F1 deal with Red Bull?

Red Bull Racing at 2014 Singapore GP
As the Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal continues to unfold, its sheer scope begs the question of just how far-reaching an impact it will have. A new report claims it could even affect the seemingly far-off world of Formula One.

Volkswagen doesn’t have any involvement in F1, but that might have been about to change. The company was reportedly negotiating a deal to supply engines to former champion Red Bull Racing, but that deal has likely been derailed by the emissions scandal, according to Motorsport.com.

It’s not a secret that Red Bull is unhappy with its current Renault powertrains, which team principals blame for its current lack of success. Red Bull was previously rumored to be courting Volkswagen property Audi as an engine supplier, but Audi denied any plans to enter F1. While Volkswagen has no real F1 experience, Red Bull apparently thinks the company could be a valuable partner.

The alleged deal would have had Volkswagen enter F1 as a supplier of “power units” (as the combined gasoline and electric hybrid powertrains are called), and acquire Red Bull Racing from its namesake energy-drink company. Red Bull would then transition to a more traditional sponsorship role.

It’s unclear what would have happened to Red Bull Racing’s sister team, Toro Rosso, under this arrangement, or whether Volkswagen would use the team to promote itself or one of its many other brands.

That’s all immaterial now, because Red Bull team boss Christian Horner says the deal “seemed to go up in smoke” after the revelation that VW installed software on diesel cars that allowed them to cheat U.S. emissions tests. The deal may not be off, but given the scope of the scandal, it’s probably fair to say that F1 isn’t a high priority right now for the VW brass.

This makes sense for Volkswagen, but it must be quite frustrating for Red Bull, which is desperate to get back into contention. The team won four championships using Renault engines, but when the current hybrid units were introduced for the 2014 season, it began falling off pace. The Renault power unit hasn’t been able to match the performance or reliability of the dominant Mercedes-Benz and more-competitive Ferrari units.

Editors' Recommendations

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Mercedes clinches fourth straight F1 constructors’ championship
A Mercedes-Benz F1 car at the 2017 US Grand Prix.

Mercedes-Benz clinched its fourth straight Formula One constructors' championship at the 2017 United States Grand Prix, held at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. While rivals Ferrari and Red Bull Racing have put up more of a fight this year, Mercedes remains the dominant team in F1.

Formula One awards championships for both constructors (the teams) and drivers, and the drivers' championship is still up for grabs as the season heads into its final three races. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton extended his lead by winning in Austin, but his main rival, Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, finished second, giving him enough points to stay in the fight.

Read more
Watching Red Bull Global Rallycross is like witnessing a real-life Mad Max chase
why global rallycross is right motorsport steve arpin

It’s a sad fact that all automobile racing eventually becomes boring, or at least boring to watch. Any given auto racing series starts out raw, wild, and uncomplicated, and then we fence it in and domesticate it. So unless you’re actually driving, most racing can be a snooze fest.

The craziest part is, we in the racing community do this to ourselves. Racers create new rules to take away someone else’s competitive advantage or to control costs. But the result is always the same: races become foregone conclusions; parades of cars circulating for hours with a caution flag raised every time things might get interesting. There may be some real racing action at the start or in the last lap of the race, but that’s usually about it.

Read more
Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing announce a new F1 team and sports car projects
Aston Martin Red Bull Racing

Aston Martin’s admiration for Red Bull Racing’s motor sport expertise appears to have grown. After collaborating on the sold-out Aston Martin Valkyrie supercar, the two companies will engage in a deeper partnership that will yield several noteworthy results.

Perhaps the biggest news is that for the 2018 Formula One season, Red Bull Racing will become Aston Martin Red Bull Racing. Remember that from 2013-2015, the “gives you wings” brand raced as Infiniti Red Bull Racing. We’re not saying Red Bull Racing gets around, but … well, maybe that is what we’re saying.

Read more