Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsFIA

FIA trying to help Red Bull stay in F1

40

FIA president Jean Todt says he will continue doing "as much as we can do" to keep Red Bull in F1 next season.

Red Bull is currently without a power unit deal for 2016 having terminated its partnership with Renault a year early. Mercedes and Ferrari have already both turned down an approach from Red Bull, with Honda saying discussions are ongoing about a potential supply deal despite opposition from McLaren.

Todd says there is only so much influence he can have over power unit supply but insists the FIA will help in any way it can to keep Red Bull and Toro Rosso on the grid.

"As much as we can do, we will do, we have done and will continue doing," Todt said. "It’s very frustrating to see teams like Red Bull and Toro Rosso struggling to get an engine.

"Saying that, I don’t want to judge on that, so probably you have always risen to something that has happened, but we must be as supportive as we can be to allow ourselves to be at the first race next year with both teams with an engine."

Asked if he thinks Red Bull could realistically quit Formula One, Todt replied: "It’s very difficult for me to answer this question because I don’t have the solution in hand.

"I’m sure that Red Bull’s people are working very hard to get a solution and Bernie is supportive as can be to find a solution. As much in my domain as I can do, I will be as supportive as I can and optimistic that Red Bull and Toro Rosso will be in the championship next year. I cannot say more because I don’t have anything for me to be able to say more about that. "

REPORT: Rosberg holds off Hamilton in Mexican GP as Vettel crashes

AS IT HAPPENED: Mexican Grand Prix

Click here for the F1 drivers' girlfriends gallery

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.