Now, hold on to your hats folks. This is really huge news. According to BBC’s F1 chief analyst, Eddie Jordan, Volkswagen is close to agreeing a deal to take over the Red Bull Formula One team. Jordan said that Red Bull’s boss, Dietrich Mateschitz, has signed off on the deal with his motorsport adviser Helmut Marko.
For a company that owns the Audi, Porshce, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Bentley, Seat and Skoda; one would assume that Audi would be the chosen one to take the limelight. According to Jordan, if VW does indeed take over the team and build its own engine, it will not debut until 2018, as the Red Bull team will use a Ferrari-sourced power plant during the transition period.
“Red Bull and VW have been in on-and-off talks for more than a year and I understand that the fundamentals of a deal for the sale of the team have been agreed,” said Jordan. “An arrangement whereby VW would take it over, becoming the fourth major manufacturer in F1, and Red Bull would continue to enjoy the high profile that comes from a major sponsorship suits both parties,” he added.
71 year-old Red Bull boss, Dietrich Mateschitz, told his company’s Speedweek website, that 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 finalized yet.
He also stated in the interview that the title sponsorship by Infiniti, which is a premium brand part of the Renault-Nissan alliance, will be waived, which is estimated to be € 25 million (RM119 million) a season. The Red Bull boss also hinted that the new partnership with Ferrari could begin in September or October, but is avoiding to confirm the speculation just yet.
He does admit that there have been ‘positive talks’ between Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko and Ferrari team head Maurizio Arrivabene, and everything will only be finalised once Mateschitz and Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne give the go ahead.
Interestingly, BBC Sport believes that VW chairman, Martin Winterkorn, agreed to deal to buy out Red Bull last winter but was vetoed by former VW Group chairman Ferdinand Piech; who was ousted in a boardroom power struggle and resigned in April.
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Few billions lawsuit impending, here still wanna buy F1 team. HA!HA!HA!
The investors better sell all their shares now.
Do you know Toyota’s and GM’s lawsuit was also as much if not more? Did they close shop? The largest car companies have contingencies for these. This will cause a dent in its yearly financial results, but not in its entire operations. Fyi, VW shares are among the most actively traded in the world for its growth and future plans, bigger than most of the Malaysian blue chips put together and safer rated by Fitch and other rating agencies.
Buy what lar… Buy Toyota model and rebadge better lar. Everyone know you won’t go wrong with sushi cars.
How about dangerous takata airbags? I dun want to die.
Beware, all butthurt DSG ass-licker will come and dislike your comment.
Before 1 lap, dsg failure. Priceless.
You mean there won’t be any Red Bullshit anymore?? No more whining by Mr Horner & Dr Marko? That’s just too sad. Its unthinkable.
And what will happen to the Red Bull academy drivers who joined up thinking they can emulate Vettel & Ricciardo in joining F1? And what will happen to Torro Rosso?
But seriously, I think Red Bull was a breath of fresh air, when they first started. They were a fun team that liked to party, just like Eddie Jordan’s old team. But along the way, when Red Bull started winning races, they took things a bit too seriously. Anyways, all the best to VW (if this bit of news is any true). If Honda is any indication, it may be an embarrassing first year.
Well, they seem relentless in wanting to win.
The cold hard truth is, Renault doesn’t deliver. But that’s difficult to tell the French after the very same supplier gave them 4 constructor’s titles.
Truthfully, Bernie and his goons in FIA all screwed up. F1 just suck balls when they decide to conserve this, conserve that.
As the pinnacle of motorsports, they should be the most liberal when it comes to the quest for speed. Instead, rule here rule there, ban here ban there. Win liao lor.
Rich companies don’t built, they buy
Wow vw bought red bull? They can help them cheat on the car specs!