Red Bull are hoping to convince Honda and McLaren to allow it to use the Japanese manufacturer’s power unit in 2016, as it desperately tries to source a replacement for Renault.
The Milton Keynes team is headed for divorce with Renault following a difficult and trying season which will see the French company takeover the Lotus team and focus its efforts on winning as a constructor, rather than as an engine supplier.
Auto Motor und Sport reports that Red Bull are in talks with Honda about using their 2016 power unit, but are having a tough time convincing the company to supply a second team in only its second season.
The hope is Honda will agree that there is a benefit to supplying two teams as it provides more development data as well as a reference point between the Red Bull and McLaren chassis.
Meanwhile Red Bull will also have to convince McLaren to agree to the deal, as the Woking outfit can veto any such deal until 2017.
When the rumour was put to team principal Christian Horner on Friday in Austin, he refused to confirm nor deny speculation surrounding their future engine supply.
“I think so far we’ve had the rumour of every [engine] supplier in the back of our car, so they [Honda] have about 25 per cent chance,” joked Horner.
“There’s so much speculation, a lot of opinions. When we have something to say and it’s fixed, we’ll say. We’re trying very hard behind the scenes.”
