Red Bull & Torro Rosso to use Renault engines in 2017/18

[jamiebae]

"Renault Sport Racing and Red Bull Racing are pleased to confirm they will continue their ongoing partnership for the supply of the power unit currently badged as Tag Heuer for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Renault Sport Racing will also rekindle its relationship with Scuderia Toro Rosso for 2017-2018.

Over the period both Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso will receive Renault’s V6 turbo power unit, but will have the opportunity to badge the power units as they wish.

The partnership with Red Bull Racing will become one of the longest and most successful chassis-engine partnerships in Formula One. The pair first teamed up in 2007 and has since won four Constructors’ and Drivers’ championships and 51 wins."

[jamiebae]

patmahe said:

Seems to be a good time for Torro Rosso to move back to Renault, the Ferrari engines seem to be falling behind and Renault seem to have gotten their act together (I know Monaco is not a good indicator of engine power, but they do seem to have gained). Will be interesting to see how they get on with building their own car again next year (as opposed to using an old Lotus design).

Yup, it was inevitable that the performance of the different PUs would start to converge as the rules matured so this does make sense. I'm not really sure why TR jumped ship in the forst place though, I guess it allowed the RB management to show Renault they were serious in their threats.