The link up between McLaren Mercedes and Force India – a done deal waiting for an announcement – has aroused speculation regarding another team looking to move up the grid in 2009.
Red Bull racing currently use customer Renault engines, and it is no secret that the rather better performance of the Ferrari-powered Toro Rosso – the same chassis – has raised eyebrows in Red Bull circles.
With Force India moving to Mercedes power – and very probably a Mclaren chassis – it would appear that a supply of Ferrari engines is going spare, and given the testing benefits of four cars in identical specification it would more than make sense for Red Bull to fall into line with her junior partner and switch to the Maranello power plant for 2009.
The two chassis – the Red Bull and STR – are essentially the same design but require different rear end treatment thanks to the engines, and bringing everything into line would benefit both teams in many ways.
The Toro Rosso – a winner in the hands of Sebastian Vettel in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza – has unquestionably performed better than the Red Bull, especially in the latter half of the season, leading to disparaging comments by the Red Bull driver Mark Webber, later retracted, regarding the difference between the two engines.
Red Bull, who will run Webber and Vettel next year, have a contract with Renault, but as we are about to see with Force India and Ferrari these things can be brought to a close with a little financial re-imbursement.
Red Bull-Ferrari in 2009? Watch this space.
Written: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:50:42
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