The 2015 season may be coming to a close, but there are still plenty of interesting F1 talking points around the paddock. We take a look at the latest F1 gossip, including the latest on Red Bull’s search for a 2016 engine, Renault’s prospective Lotus buyout and a possible return for a former F1 venue.
‘Red Bull will run a re-branded Renault engine next year’
Having been denied a power unit by rivals Mercedes and Ferrari, the struggling Honda seemed to be the last hope for Red Bull, given that their relationship with current supplier Renault has deteriorated over the last two seasons. It has, however, emerged that the upgraded engine that the French manufacturer will introduce at the Brazilian Grand Prix will be the same unit that the Bulls will use next year, albeit with a few tweaks and a different name.
Renault have quashed rumours that engine guru Mario Illien has been involved in the development of the long-awaited upgrade, which has seen them to consume 11 engine tokens, but there have been reports that Illien will work with Red Bull to develop an unbranded Renault power unit for the 2016 season. The Swiss is apparently interested in stepping up his potential involvement for 2017, when the FIA are hoping to introduce a low-cost engine for all the teams to use.
‘Renault will announce their takeover of Lotus in Abu Dhabi’
Sticking with Renault, it appears to be only a matter of time before their long-awaited return to team ownership is confirmed. Portrayed as the saviour of the cash-strapped Lotus team, there have been rumours that Renault engineers have already begun working in the team’s Enstone base – suggesting only a few minor contract details are delaying what now seems inevitable. The French manufacturer’s prospective buyout of the team – who could well keep the name ‘Lotus’ for the 2016 season – is set to be confirmed at the season-finale in Abu Dhabi.
“We’re working hard behind the scenes and we’ll have some good strong and positive announcements to make in due course,” said Lotus deputy boss Federico Gastaldi earlier this week.
The pairing of Pastor Maldonado and Jolyon Palmer may not be the best on the grid (far from it in fact) but the team could well enjoy a more competitive 2016, free of the financial woe which has haunted the team in recent years. When they last raced under the guise of ‘Renault’ in 2010, Robert Kubica recorded a hat-trick of podium finishes and scored points in 15 of the 19 races. It’s not a bad partnership.
A return for Argentina and another race in the U.S
After the return of the Mexican Grand Prix following a 23-year hiatus proved a success—largely because of the rather crazy fans—the Argentine Grand Prix has also been linked with a comeback. F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is reportedly trying to negotiate a return for the race in Buenos Aires, which was last held in 1998. Ecclestone, however, will wait for the outcome of the nation’s Presidential election later this month before deciding whether to press on with his plans.
It has also emerged that American businessman Tavo Hellmund, who helped bring Formula 1 back to the States, is looking to secure another race in the U.S.
“We’re looking at a project that’s probably two weeks away from being able to talk about it, then looking also maybe making an investment with a team,” he told NBC.
California has been suggested as a possible destination for another US race, which would presumably be held under a different title to the event in Texas. The success of the Circuit of the Americas in reinvigorating the nation’s interest in Formula 1, combined with the strong start to Alexander Rossi’s F1 career, means we could well see another Grand Prix in the NASCAR and IndyCar-dominated nation. It is worth remembering, however, that talks for a spectacular race in New Jersey fell through and that Bernie is a notoriously tough negotiator.
‘Rossi and Wehrlein for Manor in 2016’
Alexander Rossi, in his own words, has seen his stock go “through the roof” since his debut in Singapore, and is set to be rewarded with a full-time drive at Manor, whose efforts will be bolstered by a Mercedes power-unit next year. There remains the small matter of who will partner him, with the current back-markers the only team yet to confirm their line-up. Will Stevens has enjoyed a solid rookie year, out-performing Roberto Merhi consistently, and is of course in the frame, alongside the likes of DTM Champion and Mercedes reserve driver Pascal Wehrlein, GP2 winner Stoffel Vandoorne, and former McLaren driver Kevin Magnussen.
Of the three mentioned, Wehrlein appears the most likely candidate given the team’s connections to Mercedes, who may well have requested a seat for their protégé in exchange for their mighty power unit. Yet while a number of talented drivers have been linked with the team, the loss of sporting director Graeme Lowdon and team principal John Booth – set to hand in their resignation at the end of the season – could prove a big one.
Hamilton’s new set of wheels
Do excuse me, because I’d like to end on a rather silly note. Lewis Hamilton showed up to a New York charity ball last week behind the wheel of a £1 million, 220 mph LaFerrari which may even be able to rival his beastly Mercedes W06. It seems as if the rather ostentatious World Champion is cashing in on his well-deserved bonus after clinching the 2015 title in Austin last month, or perhaps Ferrari offered it to him in exchange for some information on Mercedes’ 2016 challenger. OK, maybe that was a stretch.
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