Freeze on F1 engines: Renault joins Ferrari in opposing it

The engine manufacturer Honda, which supplies its power units to the Red Bull team as well as to its junior team AlphaTauri, decided a few weeks ago to withdraw from Formula 1 starting with the 2022 season. This planned withdrawal has led to many reflections on the strategy Red Bull would adopt in the medium and long term, especially considering the new regulations that will come into effect in the discipline for the 2022 season. The Austrian team, after studying the situation, would like to continue by taking over the engine architecture plans of its Japanese partner, rather than returning to customer status with other manufacturers, which would mean using Renault engines again.

While Toto Wolff, the head of Mercedes, had recently stated that the German manufacturer would not supply engines to Red Bull, he would, however, be in favor of an engine freeze. He clarifies his position by saying that it would be beneficial for the competition to see both teams from the Red Bull camp remain in Formula 1 and fight for the world championship.

Nevertheless, the two other leading engine manufacturers in the discipline do not agree with this perspective, and after seeing Ferrari oppose this idea, it is Renault, through its team principal Cyril Abiteboul, that is now against this proposal. Initially supportive of the engine freeze to reduce costs, the French manufacturer ultimately opted for the status quo, focusing on developing a more competitive platform for 2022.

« If you had asked me six months ago, we would have pushed for an even lower budget cap, to try to contain the costs of the chassis, but also to reduce those related to the engine by accepting a freeze », said Abiteboul on the sidelines of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. « But Red Bull Racing and Honda were against it and we accepted it. »

« So we continued on a different path. Since then, we have been very busy working on the 2022 engine platform, and if you ask me today what I think about the engine freeze, my position is clearly different from what it was six months ago. »

« I am against freezing the engines. We have no intention of stopping what could be a very important platform for us. We do not accept it. »

This decision could push Red Bull to pressure the FIA to have their way. The Milton Keynes team wants to avoid heavy expenses related to designing their own engine, arguing that taking over from Honda would help them in their quest for the world title, as other engine manufacturers adapt their power units to their chassis. This matter should reach its conclusion before the end of the season, which should give Red Bull time to organize for an increasingly delicate future in F1.