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After four years of unchallenged dominance, Red Bull now faces total uncertainty, and its sister team Toro Rosso shares an equally uncertain future. Could this be the beginning of the end?
Motorsport operates in cycles, and even the longest reigns eventually come to an end. Red Bull knows this all too well. After four consecutive seasons at the top of Formula 1, the Austrian team is now losing momentum. Since Sebastian Vettel's departure to other winning teams, Red Bull has become something of a mirage. In 2014, the tide had already begun to turn, despite occasional flashes of brilliance. With Mercedes, driven by Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, dominating and the Renault engine struggling, Daniel Ricciardo scored three opportunistic victories that barely masked the car's lack of speed. For the new campaign, Horner pushed the boundaries of his youth policy by promoting Daniil Kvyat, another Red Bull talent. But Kvyat's inexperience and limited technical knowledge quickly cast doubt on this decision. He has shown promising signs, but has not yet been able to assume the leadership role that many expected of him. Ricciardo, meanwhile, is battling silent discouragement in an increasingly unpredictable car. Disappointed with the development of the French engine, the Australian still managed to score two timely podium finishes this summer, offering a glimmer of hope. However, he remains realistic about his prospects and has few illusions about the near future.
At present, Red Bull and its sister team Toro Rosso are in limbo. Having already announced the end of their partnership with Renault engines, they now find themselves without a power unit. The fallout from Renault's poor communication and lack of recognition has prompted other manufacturers, Mercedes and Honda, to refuse to supply the Austrian cars, at least until negotiations resume. A supply deal with Ferrari seems plausible, but the demanding conditions set by the Mateschitz-Marko-Horner trio are proving to be an obstacle. With the 2016 chassis already in development, the top priority will be to obtain and integrate a new engine. Both teams therefore find themselves in a precarious position for the coming season, and the road ahead looks long and difficult.
