Red Bull land 'free' Infinitis engines

[ferrari4life]

http://planetf1.com/news/18227/67856...initis-engines

Red Bull Racing may be using the same engines as Renault this season, however, they will be rebadged as Infinitis.

Red Bull claimed the double last season, powered by Renault and opted to extend their deal with the French carmaker.

However, this year the engines will no longer be called 'Renault'. Instead, they will be renamed 'Infinitis'.

According to the BBC, the deal is expected to boost Red Bull's coffers "by at least £7m", which equates to "about 4-5% of their total budget" as they will be receiving the engines for free.

The deal is intended to boost Infiniti - the premium brand of Nissan, which is part-owned by Renault - name on the global stage.

[ferrari4life]

The reason why I bought this up was to discuss the FREE engine deals. How is this not a violation of the whole F1 on a budget deal. So just because the engiens are given to them for free they do not have to count it towards their final spending allowance for the year?

In that case why cant FIAT gift re-badged engines to Ferrari as well?

[Salvador Dali]

The reason why I bought this up was to discuss the FREE engine deals. How is this not a violation of the whole F1 on a budget deal. So just because the engiens are given to them for free they do not have to count it towards their final spending allowance for the year?

In that case why cant FIAT gift re-badged engines to Ferrari as well?

A good question and a good point!
Firstly I think that naming Renault's engines as Infinity is payed by Infinity (same as a sponsor would - remember PLAYLIFE?) but at the same time share the price with Renault as it would be a common good for them (since they are owned by Renault and Nissan). So that is a good economic and marketing move...
As for the spending limit I think it is not as simple as a budget cap. Remember that Ferrari said that they used Toyota's wind tunnel as outsourcing was a way to keep the costs down. So IMHO it is policed what you can do IN HOUSE rather than setting a cap on spending.

Emmm... I hope someone with the right knowledge will come along and explain this as I seem to be lost...

[Tifosi]

A good question and a good point!
Firstly I think that naming Renault's engines as Infinity is payed by Infinity (same as a sponsor would - remember PLAYLIFE?) but at the same time share the price with Renault as it would be a common good for them (since they are owned by Renault and Nissan). So that is a good economic and marketing move...
As for the spending limit I think it is not as simple as a budget cap. Remember that Ferrari said that they used Toyota's wind tunnel as outsourcing was a way to keep the costs down. So IMHO it is policed what you can do IN HOUSE rather than setting a cap on spending.

Emmm... I hope someone with the right knowledge will come along and explain this as I seem to be lost...

PLAYLIFE was EXACTLY the first thing that came to my mind when I read that!

[kazi]

iirc engine costs are not included in the budget cap. Actually, i'm positive about this. It's not included.


Tho i fear this infinity version of the renault might be considered a new engine by the FIA and thus needing a new homologisation. And that this is a stunt for reworking the Renault engine dispite of the engine freeze.

[Grillo]

The reason why I bought this up was to discuss the FREE engine deals. How is this not a violation of the whole F1 on a budget deal. So just because the engiens are given to them for free they do not have to count it towards their final spending allowance for the year?

In that case why cant FIAT gift re-badged engines to Ferrari as well?

Very good question. I thin it something FOTA should discuss in coming meetings.

[kazi]

Let's just get this clear, the engines are NOT included in the cost restriction. The teams can spend whatever they like. This "free engine deal" is the exact same thing as a £7 sponsorship.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011...a-one-red-bull

"Resource restriction agreement" (RRA). This limits areas such as staff numbers, size of computer storage space and the amount of days cars can be tested on track. However, there are significant exclusions from it such as marketing costs and engine development, which alone accounts for around £220m of annual spending."



Just getting the facts straight before this thread turns ugly.

[ferrari4life]

iirc engine costs are not included in the budget cap. Actually, i'm positive about this. It's not included.


Tho i fear this infinity version of the renault might be considered a new engine by the FIA and thus needing a new homologisation. And that this is a stunt for reworking the Renault engine dispite of the engine freeze.

i would hope they would not get away with it. I would say then Ferrari could have FIAT badge their engines as one of the many car manufactures they own and do the same thing. Plus Renault would have a fit if now their engines were slowed than the bulls because of a technicality

[Mrs.Domenicali]

I think calling an engine infinity is a sure fire way to hex it right from the start, a bit like when you say its quiet at work and all hell breaks loose

[Afalej]

Hm so they will call themself Red Bull Infinity Racing then? Pretty cool name

[Tifosi]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89677

Looks like they are just adding a few badges to the rear wing, nose and drivers overalls, they are not rebranding the engine so they wont be calling themselves Red Bull Infiniti Racing I guess.

[Afalej]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89677

Looks like they are just adding a few badges to the rear wing, nose and drivers overalls, they are not rebranding the engine so they wont be calling themselves Red Bull Infiniti Racing I guess.

To bad, that name sounded very awesome