Red Bull chief technical officer Adrian Newey has ruled out a potential reconciliation between the energy drinks giants and engine partner Renault, saying “the relationship is pretty terminal”.
Red Bull had a contract with Viry through the end of 2016 but elected to ditch its power unit supply one year ahead of schedule in the wake of growing frustrations with Renault’s troubles in the 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged era.
Although recent rumours had the French constructor planning to buy out Red Bull, Newey, who took part in the public spat by blaming Renault’s underpowered engine earlier this year, thinks the association has reached a point of no return.
“Unfortunately, our relationship with Renault is pretty terminal,” Newey told UK news agency Reuters. “There's been too much of a marriage breakdown, so we have no engine.”
Red Bull then explored several avenues in order to secure a power unit for 2016 but was officially rebuffed by Mercedes, while Ferrari appeared reluctant to grant works-outfit engine parity to a rival outfit.
Newey, the most successful designer in F1 history, believes the two current front runners are scared to see Red Bull overshadow their factory squads with the same equipment.
“We're possibly going to be forced out of Formula 1 - Mercedes and Ferrari have refused to supply us out of fear.
“Red Bull should not be put in a position where they're only there to make up the numbers.”
Having repeatedly threatened to quit F1 should he fail to have a competitive engine next year, Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz recently set a late October deadline to find a deal.
Click here for F1i's Russian Grand Prix drivers rating
Hamilton close to title after Russian GP win
Click here for the F1 drivers' girlfriends gallery
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
