Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsRed Bull Racing

Horner confident of customer engine status

Christian Horner believes that Red Bull Racing's status as a customer engine partner will not limit its ambitions, providing it is supplied with a competitive power unit.

In light of the Milton Keynes outfit's trials and tribulations this year and last with engine partner Renault following the introduction of F1's new engine regulations in 2014, and the French manufacturer's inability to produce a reliable and performing unit, many question Red Bull's faculty to restore its former luster without the use of a works, tailor-made power unit.

"We won four world championships and 50 Grands Prix as a customer, so I don't see why not," said Horner. "I think it's just a different solution."

Red Bull Racing's team principal has publicly expressed this year on multiple occasions the fact that its engine partner was the weak link in the RB11-Renault package. The consequent strenuous relationship led to a split of the two companies and to Red Bull's search for a new engine partner.

"In order to achieve a championship or outright race-winning capability we need to have a significant step on the power unit," Horner underlined."Obviously we need to make progress on the chassis and we are working very hard to do that, but we really need to close that gap down to our competitors."

Ferrari sees 'no problem' in Red Bull engine deal

Following Mercedes' recent decision to not supply a team it rightly considers as a potential threat to its own works effort, Red Bull can reasonably envisage a collaboration with only Ferrari for 2016.

In spite of Horner's confidence, questions remain however regarding the specification level of a customer engine package eventually supplied to Red Bull by the Italian manufacturer, and whether a customer deal on a par with Ferrari's other clients would allow it to fulfill the raging bull's F1 ambitions.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.