Volkswagen close to buying Red Bull F1 team

[Stormy]

German car giant Volkswagen is close to agreeing a deal to take over the Red Bull Formula 1 team, says BBC F1 chief analyst Eddie Jordan.
The agreement would see VW buy the team and build its own engine, while Red Bull continues as a major sponsor.
Jordan says a VW engine would not enter F1 until 2018 and Red Bull would use Ferrari power in the interim.
The team will split with current engine partner Renault after this season, ending their contract a year early.
It is not clear which of the VW Group's brands would be promoted in F1, although Audi is the favourite. The company also owns the Porsche, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Bentley, Seat and Skoda marques.

Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz told his company's Speedweek website on Friday that his team's split from Renault was concluded "a few weeks ago".
He said using a Ferrari engine would be "a very acceptable solution for the next two or three years" but a contract with the Italian company was not finalised.
Any VW deal would represent a triumph for Martin Winterkorn, the chairman of the VW board of directors, in an internal power struggle.
Winterkorn has agreed the deal with Mateschitz and the drinks giant's motorsport adviser Helmut Marko, Jordan says.
VW and Red Bull have long-time links and are currently partners in the world rally championship.
BBC Sport understands Winterkorn agreed a deal to buy out Red Bull last winter but the plan was vetoed by former VW Group chairman Ferdinand Piech.
Piech was ousted in a boardroom power struggle and resigned in April.
In May Marko said: "If we don't have a competitive engine in the near future, then either Audi is coming or we are out."
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has consistently denied that the team have held talks with the VW Group.
He told BBC Sport in June: "There has been no dialogue with VW or Audi."
On Thursday and Friday at the Singapore Grand Prix, Marko and Horner repeated the threat that Red Bull would quit F1 if they did not get a strong engine.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/34297046

This are great news for the sport. A giant manufacturer like VW is coming to the sport with one of its marques that will boost the sport popularity and contribute a lot from a technological aspect.
This means that VW doesn't want only to be an engine distributor but a constructor as well. As for Red Bull they will continue to exist in the sport as a major sponsor to VW's team.
Maybe Red Bull can't find a decent engine partner so that's why they are selling the team, using our engines till VW take over.

[The Architect]

Not good news. F1 needs fewer manufacturers. What will VW bring to F1 beyond a sense of entitlement and belief that F1 caters to its marketing objectives? They're not racers; they're not in it for the competition and like Mercedes, they will deliver tantrums and ultimatums that are self-serving and harm the sport in the long term.

[Stormy]

Not good news. F1 needs fewer manufacturers. What will VW bring to F1 beyond a sense of entitlement and belief that F1 caters to its marketing objectives? They're not racers; they're not in it for the competition and like Mercedes, they will deliver tantrums and ultimatums that are self-serving and harm the sport in the long term.

I don't see how Red Bull are better then VW who are actually a car manufacturer.
Of course its better for the sport to have one more car manufacturer rather then an energy drink company. More manufacturers increases competition in a healthy way.

[Giallo 550]

Not good news. F1 needs fewer manufacturers. What will VW bring to F1 beyond a sense of entitlement and belief that F1 caters to its marketing objectives? They're not racers; they're not in it for the competition and like Mercedes, they will deliver tantrums and ultimatums that are self-serving and harm the sport in the long term.

I prefer to see Volkswagen compete over a soft drink company. The description you provided perfectly describes Red Bull during their 2010-2013 campaign, so the point is moot.

[TigerKing]

It won't be under VW as the article suggests. It will most likely be under Audi which as a strong history in F1 before the world championship years (under the guise as Auto Union). All we need now is Maserati and Alfa Romeo and the early days of F1 can be recreated!

[REDARMYSOJA]

It won't be under VW as the article suggests. It will most likely be under Audi which as a strong history in F1 before the world championship years (under the guise as Auto Union).

Wasn't "under a guise". Auto Union was made up of Audi, Horsch, Wanderer and DKW. The team had nothing to do with any of the companies.

373-AU-1.gif

[The Architect]

I don't see how Red Bull are better then VW who are actually a car manufacturer.
Of course its better for the sport to have one more car manufacturer rather then an energy drink company. More manufacturers increases competition in a healthy way.

Red Bull at the very least have been sponsors for many years before starting their own team. Mateschitz actually has a fondness for F1. What about VW? They're probably going to draw lots to determine which 'brand' will take the team name. They've seen what Mercedes have done with ramming through technical regs and marketing and are thinking to themselves 'I want some of that too'.

[The Architect]

I prefer to see Volkswagen compete over a soft drink company. The description you provided perfectly describes Red Bull during their 2010-2013 campaign, so the point is moot.

What did Red Bull do in 2010-2013 that no regular team would not have done? Red Bull did not change engine regs that fundamentally changed the formula.

[Giallo 550]

What did Red Bull do in 2010-2013 that no regular team would not have done? Red Bull did not change engine regs that fundamentally changed the formula.

I'm just saying that they threw tantrums and made ultimatums too.

[Brembo]

Red Bull has a team in or sponsors most every sport there is. They were on top in F1. They have bilions$$$ to spend. I imagine it's unbearable to fall like they have in F1. I for one couldn't get used to them winning those years. For me they came from out of nowhere compared to the main F1 teams and took over. At least we wound up with there best former asset, Seb!
VW is being sued for $18 Billion for falsifying emission tests on several of there models. There stock took a tremendous dive. I don't believe they will be buying anything in the near future.

[The Architect]

I certainly don't see VW entering now. Even Audi's WEC participation and their promotion of diesel engines could be at risk from the fallout.

[Silent Bob]

Yup. I think VW will be rethinking any major investments into sport right now and instead focus on clearing up their mess. They could be hit with billions in fines from multiple countries and regions not to mention class action suits.

[Stormy]

Yup. I think VW will be rethinking any major investments into sport right now and instead focus on clearing up their mess. They could be hit with billions in fines from multiple countries and regions not to mention class action suits.

Yeah. That is very unfortunate. But maybe just maybe, they would like to come in F1 so they can do a nice marketing and PR boost just because of this scandal?

[S1000RR]

Maybe they will launch their F1 team as Lamborghini sinds it is part of the VAG group? Or what about Bugatti and Bentley

P.S. according to the article Martin Winterkorn is the man at VW who is leading the deal. There are rumours he will be fired this Friday because of this diesel mess, Ferdinand Piech will replace him who vetoed against a F1 deal.

Sorry wrong info; Matthias Muller is named as replacement.

[jragona]

I hope something happens with Red Bull but after singapore, how can Ferrari give them their engines? Mercedes are correct not to do the deal. Don't you guys agree?

[Red is Best]

Looks like recent developments have made this deal dead on arrival.

[Stormy]

Looks like recent developments have made this deal is dead on arrival.

You may never know. VW may enter just because of this, to clear its name and do a positive marketing.

[Nova]

Red Bull has a team in or sponsors most every sport there is. They were on top in F1. They have bilions$$$ to spend. I imagine it's unbearable to fall like they have in F1. I for one couldn't get used to them winning those years. For me they came from out of nowhere compared to the main F1 teams and took over. At least we wound up with there best former asset, Seb!
VW is being sued for $18 Billion for falsifying emission tests on several of there models. There stock took a tremendous dive. I don't believe they will be buying anything in the near future.

Yes, isnt Fiat/Chrysler getting sued for the same thing?

[Senna4Ever]

Looks like recent developments have made this deal is dead on arrival.

Could be ...
on the other hand i would have supposed that they will join the circuit with the brand "Porsche" (like in the 80s) ... and the overall mass of people doesn't connect VW with Porsche at all (guess)

but the possible process and the money involved of course can massively hurt the whole group (US attorneys smell money and the won't give up if they have it) ...

nevertheless: to start such a project will last at least 2 years to be really prepared and don't become a next HONDA joke ... so therefore RB would need to find a solution anyway due to their aggressive attitude and the split with Renault by sudden.

[mirafiori]

Yes, isnt Fiat/Chrysler getting sued for the same thing?

No Nova, for now the Fiat group are not implicated, as I have been saying it is important to have Fiat doing well to safe guard a strong Ferrari. This situation is very serious and could easily end Audi coming into Formula one, VW have already dropped 30% in value and have set aside 5 billion pounds so far and don't forget they will also have private lawsuits against them which could amount to many billions of pounds. So let's hope the Fiat group are not involved in this emmisions scandal.

[kraig1]

If, VW were to buy Red Bull, and Ferrari were supplying the engines, wouldn't that help VW by dissecting the Ferrari engine? Am I just paranoid at that possibility?

[The Architect]

If, VW were to buy Red Bull, and Ferrari were supplying the engines, wouldn't that help VW by dissecting the Ferrari engine? Am I just paranoid at that possibility?

They undoubtedly would. I'm sure McLaren and Honda did the same. Although in their case, they managed to botch their own engine, probably by being overly ambitious.

[voiko]

VW are great at falsifying fuel economy so maybe they would be great in todays F1 era hahahahaha - This latest shamozzle is costing them >$10bn

[Giallo 550]

If, VW were to buy Red Bull, and Ferrari were supplying the engines, wouldn't that help VW by dissecting the Ferrari engine? Am I just paranoid at that possibility?

I'm pretty sure I heard a story about Chevy buying a Ferrari and having the Corvette team take it apart in order to learn what makes it do what it does a few years ago.

[vcs316]

Winterkorn resignation to scupper VW F1 bid?

The prospects of the Volkswagen Group entering Formula 1 could be scuppered by the news that Martin Winterkorn is to resign as its chief executive in the wake of the US car emissions scandal.

Winterkorn was known to be the driving force behind a bid to convince Volkswagen board members to sign off a move into F1, a passage made clearer by former chairman Ferdinand Piech – who was against the proposal – exiting the firm earlier in the year.

However, the revelation that the world's largest car maker manipulated US diesel car emissions tests to give more positive results has claimed its first victim in Winterkorn, who said the company needed a 'fresh start' to rebuild consumer confidence even if he insists he had no knowledge of the wrongdoing.

The news is a swift and potentially decisive blow to the suggestion that VW could finally green light a move into F1 at least in the short-term, particularly as it says it will be setting aside £4.7 billion to cover costs of the scandal and has already had upwards of 40 billion euros wiped off its value on the stock market.

News broke over the Singapore Grand Prix weekend that VW was close to a deal to take over Red Bull Racing's F1 effort from 2018 and was set to construct its own power unit, only for the scale of the emissions scandal to emerge too.

German media is reporting Porsche boss Matthias Mueller will be named as Winterkorn's replacement on Friday.

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/223346/...m_campaign=rss