Audi to supply Red Bull?
Written by Peter Gillespie · November 14, 2005
Please God let this turn out to be true! There is talk in the German media of Red Bull racing hooking up with Audi in 2008 as an engine supplier, Gerhard Berger a friend of both the head of Red Bull & VW Audi is also believed to be involved.
The story transpires that Audi will be out of DTM racing at the end of 2007, Opel are pulling out after 2006, and intend to use 2007 as a development year before launching an F1 program in 2008.
Speculation even extends to VW Audi producing a non-Audi “badged” engine & running it with the Torro Rosso squad too develop the unit in a racing environment, before bolting on to the back of a Adrian Newey car as early as 2007 or as late as 2009! A non-badged engine is not entirely unheard of; early 90’s Yamaha units were a front for Toyota’s original aborted F1 attempt. Long term engine preparations for F1 entries are standard practice these days. BMW spent all of 1998 & 1999 developing their engine away from F1 before coming in with Williams in 2000 & Toyota’s two years of solid pre-entry testing on chassis & engine started with a V12!
If Audi were to enter the post 2008 world of F1 it would make a lot sense. Firstly, by that time the official FIA series will have settled down with team commitments to the FIA or a break away series would be up & running. Thus, in the coming seasons Audi would be in a perfect position to judge where it should be entering a F1 effort.
Secondly, entering the sport with Red Bull makes sound financial sense. After all, why go down the expensive Toyota build-from-scratch route or the equally expensive top dollar buyout of an existing team (i.e. Honda/BAT or BMW/Sauber) when you can provide a block to a Adrian Newey designed flyer? Further, having rewritten Le Mans history with it’s sports car program (how that must get up the noses of Mercedes & Toyota management) and having succeeded in every category it has ever competed in - rally, touring & sports prototypes - how long can Audi ignore the presence of the other two big German giants in F1?
Audi have stated publicly in the past that they would not consider F1 at its current costs. Will the temptation of running with Red Bull as an engine partner only be too good a deal to miss? Fingers crossed.
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8 Responses to “Audi to supply Red Bull?”
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HAH… and you laughed at me a couple weeks back when I mentioned a VW badged F1 car.
Hold your applause… just send money.
Audi badged not VW badged!……. Oh alright marc, the beers are on me.
Seriously if this Audi deal were to come off it would be the best thing for F1.
Come on Marc, a VW on an F1 car? I don’t think so! From one blogger to another, a $100.00 dollar (U.S.) bet; if Audi shows up with a car or engine with their marque first, you owe me. If an engine or team arrives with a VW brand first, I owe you, either way payable to the charities of our choice.
Actually, I am embarassed to issue such a challenge, in as much as your comment was offered in jest. Wasn’t it?
Marc,
If you opt to take the wager, we need to define a time frame, I’ll leave that part up to you.
I’ll hold the money!
I was always wondering when VW/AUDI would get into F1,this is the pinnacle of motor sports,no one really watch Le Mans,and they seem to think it’s the greatest racing around.The Indy 500 has more viewers,it’s about time they came in .Look at Toyota,they got creamed the first year,and are now coming on fairly good.I am and always be a Ferrari fan,but VW/AUDI need to come and take it’s licks and move on to the podium,or drop out like Ford did.I think M-Bens and BMW would welcome Audi/VW into F1.I personnaly won’t buy a Ford simply because Ford dropped out of F1,F1 is it.The next to come in should be GM.I heard rumors of GM and Goodyear planning an assault on F1 as well,lets hope it comes true.Can’t wait for the first F1 race begin and see the cars in action.Even Red Bull should make Audi VW feel assamed,gues that’s why they are joining forces.
Audi - Shumacher?
Shumi can help them build a competitive team and car.
What a dream…..
//Mac
When lamborghini launched the gallardo with a V10 (designed by vw/audi), I’ve said it and will repeat it, red-bull en the vw/audi are married. vw -> dakar, audi-> dtm, seat -> wtcc, so what have we got left? lamborgini, bugatti and porsche. what is the symbol of a lamborghini? a bull….aha so why is it so hard to believe that the italian former minardi team will be rebadged as Lamborghini toro rosso?? and it makes sence every engine manufacturer in f1 will have to give 2 engines to the FIA….if vw/audi decides to enter 6 months later? it will have 6 months to tune a engine like they did for le-mans, so 2009 will see vw/audi have the most powerfull engines of the f1-field….
We will see…..