Renault confirms 2014 engine deal with Toro Rosso

[theforce]

Renault confirms 2014 engine deal with Toro Rosso

Renault has confirmed it will power Toro Rosso from 2014 onwards when the new V6 turbo engine regulations come into force.

Toro Rosso, currently powered by Ferrari, revealed it was in talks with Renault at the start of the season so the news comes as little surprise, but it does come at a time when several engine contracts are up in the air for next season. The deal makes sense as both Red Bull-owned teams will now be powered by the same engines.

"While it is logical we would discuss supplying Toro Rosso based on our partnership with Infiniti Red Bull Racing, it was not a foregone conclusion," Renault Sport F1 president Jean-Michel Jalinier said. "We carefully considered what is best for all parties before concluding the agreement. Toro Rosso is a well-run, established team, with strong personnel and facilities giving the team the potential to be a regular points contender.

"Renault remains involved in F1 to win and demonstrate the excellence of its products. To achieve our aims we need to have teams functioning at the highest level, which is why we are delighted to sign with Toro Rosso.

"Off track it will also enable us to further promote the association with the Red Bull brand to our customers worldwide. We look forward to creating a long and multi-level relationship with Toro Rosso, just as we have with Infiniti Red Bull Racing."

Franz Tost, Scuderia Toro Rosso team principal, added: "We are very pleased to have reached an agreement to use Renault power units from the 2014 season onwards, when the new regulations will present interesting challenges. It is particularly important that we have managed to finalise our plans early, so that we can be as well prepared as possible for next year. While looking forward to working with Renault, I would also like to thank Ferrari, our engine supplier since 2007. They have provided us with an extremely effective and reliable engine and an excellent service."

Red Bull will continue as Renault's "development partner", with Christian Horner saying: "Strategically for Red Bull and Renault, it makes perfect sense for Scuderia Toro Rosso to use the same power unit as Infiniti Red Bull Racing from the 2014 season, which enables synergies between Red Bull and Renault to continue to grow."

The news comes as Williams is expected to confirm a switch from Renault to Mercedes power next year. It means Renault has three confirmed contracts under the new regulations with Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Caterham. Lotus has yet to confirm if it will stay with the French manufacturer.

All the hype about teams switching to Renault or Merc power...is Ferrari not doing enough to attract teams?

[Infi24r]

Do we want Red Bull having our engines and data? I don't think so.

[Rob]

They never really helped us out on track anyway, just held us up.

Bye bye.

[Cozza]

Everyone guessed this awhile ago anyway.

We knew it was going to happen. Just like the recent Paddy Lowe to Merc. Knew it was going to happen. Just had to wait till it was official.

[Nova]

I think they should change their name.

[red power]

I think they should change their name.

Call themselves; Rouge Taureau Renault

[Katu]

Call themselves; Rouge Taureau Renault

[vcs316]

Williams might switch to Mercedes power...

Williams could switch to Mercedes power next season as Merc executive director Toto Wolff has revealed that talks are taking place.

Just hours after Toro Rosso confirmed they were dropping Ferrari in favour of Renault, Wolff announced that Williams too could change engine suppliers for next season.

With F1 swapping to smaller 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 engines next season, the price of the units is set to soar with Renault reportedly the most expensive of the manufacturers.

As such Williams are looking at other sources and have entered talks with Mercedes whose engines are believed to cost a few million less.

The German outfit is also set to lose a team in 2015 as McLaren have already confirmed that they will use Honda power when the Japanese manufacturer returns to the sport.

"It's clear we are losing an engine customer in 2015 and for Mercedes it is important to have a regular business case and it is important to have at least three customers from 2015 onwards," ESPNF1 quoted Wolff as saying.

"This is why we are having certain discussions and Williams is one of them.

"It would be for 2014, because nobody would sign a one-year deal with anyone."

[wisepie]

Just a thought, now that Renault/Nissan/Infiniti and Mercedes have a technical collaboration for their road cars, will they be helping each other to develop the new F1 engines? More teams using this powerplant will give them better test mileage and give them an advantage over Ferrari, unless we can supply a similar number of teams. I think that the Renault and Merc F1 engine builders are separate entities within their respective companies, but it could help them with development.

[shamim179]

I think Ferrari isn't creating enough hype to lure teams into using their engines but perhaps this is on purpose to keep it at a maximum of 3 teams?

But are we going to make much money out of these engines at this relatively low price. Is the Renault engine really worth almost 50% more than the Ferrari?

[Hornet]

I think Ferrari isn't creating enough hype to lure teams into using their engines but perhaps this is on purpose to keep it at a maximum of 3 teams?

But are we going to make much money out of these engines at this relatively low price. Is the Renault engine really worth almost 50% more than the Ferrari?

Well, Ferrari have to win with the same engine, so I don't think it's a budget engine. Ferrari will make the best engine they can come up with. Maybe they are not making much profit to attract other teams to use Ferrari engine.

[steelstallions]

We should have a sister Team, Alfa Romeo or Maserati, something to get these names resurrected at the pinnacle of Motorsport now that Fiat are investing heavily in those names to sell new models in America with the Chrysler branch of the operation.

[wisepie]

We should have a sister Team, Alfa Romeo or Maserati, something to get these names resurrected at the pinnacle of Motorsport now that Fiat are investing heavily in those names to sell new models in America with the Chrysler branch of the operation.

Like the sound of this, but I think it might dilute the Ferrari brand, especially if they got beaten! But what a glorious sight it would be.

[Alonso14]

We should have a sister Team, Alfa Romeo or Maserati, something to get these names resurrected at the pinnacle of Motorsport now that Fiat are investing heavily in those names to sell new models in America with the Chrysler branch of the operation.

Personally, I strongly disagree with the concept of sister teams. Toro Rosso are the only team in F1 that doesn't want to win races and it creates absurd situations. For example last year in Spa when STR was matching Mercedes on the straight and then miraculously the Red Bull that struggled to get past anyone on the straight just breezed past them. Or in Abu Dhabi when Vergne lost heaps of time just to let past Vettel. Or in Brazil where RBR ended with having 5(!) cars (MSC being the fifth) that are racing just so they can help SV advance as much as possible and win the WDC. Sister teams should be banned, it is one thing to have technical partnership (FI/Marussia - McLaren), it's another ball game having teams that it's sole goal is to help RBR (or any other team, including Ferrari) develop drivers and help them during the races if possible.

[fadyferrari]

i really dislike them calling themselves "TORRO ROSSO"!there is nothing italian abt that team....!

[Infi24r]

i really dislike them calling themselves "TORRO ROSSO"!there is nothing italian abt that team....!

The team is based in Italy isn't it?

[Suzie]

They're based in Faenza.

[Nova]

Yes but, at one time Minardi who is now Toro, was a hugely popular team in Italy.
Sort of a cult following. U could really see it at Monza, but since becoming so diluted by
RB, they r hardly an Italian team anymore.

[Bubbles]

Guys, I think I read somewhere that the Renault engine will only go to 11,000 RPM initially. I'm no engineer, but combining that with the rumor from last year that Newey is not pleased with the progress might point to the fact that the Renault unit is underdeveloped.

So, it's underdeveloped, hyped, and way more expensive than the Ferrari unit which will end up being by far the most powerful.

I have a good feeling about the Ferrari V6, guys. It's going to be a beast. They should name it Envy, because that's the kind of emotion it will convey.

Cheers.

EDIT: Imagine the specification of the Ferrari F146:
Engine: Envy V6-Turbo


Aw, that makes me smile.

[fadyferrari]

Yes but, at one time Minardi who is now Toro, was a hugely popular team in Italy.
Sort of a cult following. U could really see it at Monza, but since becoming so diluted by
RB, they r hardly an Italian team anymore.

thats what i was pointing at.....its just a second grade version of the RB now......it hasnt got a italian ting to it like any italian team should have

[Giallo 550]

Good riddance!!!

[redkid]

I think most of the "neutral" field would prefer a renault V6 engine for the reason that they can (maybe?) ask renault to build or adjust the engine according to their car design or the fact that renault will treat them "fairly" considering the fact that renault is not fielding its own F1 Challenger, unlike Ferrari and Merc. Add to this also the "rumor" (or maybe a fact?) that renaults engine is well known for its efficient fuel consumption, hence, you can carry less fuel to the race which makes your car lighter and of course a little faster. But of course, this is just an assumption.

Let's just hope that Ferrari's V6 engine for 2014 will be a reliable one and I truly trust our engineers to have built a reliable, efficient yet powerful engine.

Forza Ferrari!