red bull publically dissed renault for supplying, what they considered 'crap' engines, renault got a bit miffed to say the least. all the time RB and renault were winning world championships it was 'red bull' winning... as soon as they are not on the top of the podium it's a 'renault ' problem.
so the tensions/spats between the 2 went all the way through 2015. eventually RB drawing up legal papers to cancel the renault supply contract 1 year early... but crucially not actually issueing it.
RB went shopping for a new engine, but didn't want a customer engine, they wanted the same spec as the suppliers. Merc said no, why supply someone with equal kit to beat the factory team. Ferrari did the same. RB did discuss with Honda, even tho the engine was proving to be a dog in 2015, but Ron Dennis put the kybosh on that, claiming an exclusivity clause.
so red bull HAD to go back to Renault, (and crucially still had the contract so renault couldn't get out of it) especially after Bernies attempt to get an independant supplier hit a stone wall... (watch this space tho for 2017, red bull won't have current renault contract then and once again be without an engine, so cue Dietrich Mateschitz threatening to pull RB and torro rosso out of the sport again!!)
but renault, thoroughly p'd off with RB, and brokered by bernie, agreed to have the renault engine supplied to the RB factory, then tweaked by Ilmore, and rebadged 'tag' just to distance it from its origins.... TAG also stopped being a Mclaren main sponsor this season (after sponsoring them for what seems like forever), perhaps they wanted to keep their name in F1 somehow...
this also timed with renault setting up it's works team, so the RB infinity (ie renault) sponsorship went out the window
now RB have Aston martin badges on the nose.... and no engine contract for 2017...... now if they were to introduced a meaty NA engine as part of bernies independent engine supplier plan......
that doesn't sound like the planning and execution of a Max Mosely scheme would it? max making up the strategies and bernie carrying them out???
as for Haas doing so well for a brand new team, they are, they have certainly hit the ground running....
....but having over a year to prepare with no limits on testing (as they weren't a F1 racing team at the time so didn't have the test restrictions) with ferrari parts, ferrari engine, ferrari wind tunnel, tech and so on..... and can we really believe that ferrari didn't learn anything being Haas partners as they do seem to have moved forward quite a bit over the winter......
On top of that, I immediately noticed how good F1 is at segregating the audience. At an ALMS/USCC event, I felt that general admission was usually good enough to see and experience much of what was going on but at F1, there is really a lot of interaction that I was missing out on because I had not paid for paddock access or a seat in the stands. Lesson learned. While Albert Park provided a good view via the track-side screens and little hills packed with crowds, I will definitely get a more premium seat next time. I'm really excited about this season and look forward to attending more F1 races in the future.
or how good the tracks have had to get squeezing every last penny out of the audience to cover the millions in 'hosting' fees that bernie demands from the circuits. sadly most circuits run F1 race weekends at a loss
