Red Bull-Infiniti?

[RF_Racer]

And I did think most of those on that other forums were loonies and trolls always talking rubbish. For once someone got it right, I suspect he had inside info.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by TF110

F1 is the place to be, especially if Red Bull is going to be the team to beat this year again.

Well, it's the place to be if you're in the back of a Red Bull car.

Originally Posted by TF110

Infinity being on their cars will have nothing but good side effects unless they fall flat and fail every race. Which is highly unlikely.

Probably not, but reliability wasn't the Renault's strongest point.

Originally Posted by TF110

This is news, good news though. perhaps Nissan will have more input in the sport. Maybe convincing Toyota and Honda to come back as at least engine suppliers in the future. Maybe badged as Acura and Lexus lol.

I can't see Nissan building its own chassis. And it's hard to see Toyota or Honda etc, coming back to a series dominated by a few people that are very good at aerodynamics.

Maybe someone can put a badge on a Merc, Renault, Ferrari or Cosworth engine. But would they actually build their own?

[duke_toaster]

Claims on twitter that something about this deal is embargoed until midnight.

[Matador]

Originally Posted by p-matt

BBC are reporting this story this evening. Apparently the engines will be free.

I wonder if this may pave the way for Kamui Kobayashi to become a Red Bull driver in 2012? Mark Webber probably won't stay, and none of the junior drivers are ready for a top line seat yet.

Kobayashi is still very much a "Toyota" driver. You wont find him racing anything with a Honda or Nissan badge on it.

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

Claims on twitter that something about this deal is embargoed until midnight.

STR switching to Infiniti as well?

[strider]

This report clarifies the situation nicely. It comes as a surprise to some extent, but I don't doubt it's authenticity.

[broadrun96]

Sounds like Infiniti is joining RBR as a research partner and toe in the water of F1. It feels like we could seem Infiniti step in if Renault does step away. Definitely fits in with the electric/hybrid push the Nissan/Infiniti PR guys have been pushing for the last 2 years. The Inifiniti VP directly mentioned their involvement in battery research and possible KERS development.

[GTRMagic]

So are the RBR engines now free or not?

[St00ge]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

So are the RBR engines now free or not?

That was never going to be the case from my understanding....

[gomick]

Wasnt Infiniti deal going to pay for Renault engines... Red Bull Nissan sounded better! Infiniti sounded poo years ago when they ran in Indy Car!

[E.B]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

So are the RBR engines now free or not?

Lets just say that the income from Infiniti will cover the 8 million euro engine bill.
Certainly the Infiniti sponsorship content is enough to cover the engine bill from Renault > RBR.Maybe it could be paid in the form of an inter-company transfer from Nissan to Renault. Plus the benefits of the technical assistance from Nissan regarding KERS, Nissan being very strongly involved in the development of Hybrid and electric auto technology

Bottom line is that it gives RBR additional funds to help with development, and enhancing the car with a bit of Infiniti's ethos of 'Inspired Performance.

Of course the car will remain entered, as last year, as a Red Bull Renault. Not Red Bull Nissan, or Infiniti.
Beats Red Bull Dacia though.

[OZ_HCR32]

Meh...Infiniti. I like the sound of Nismo RBR myself

[duke_toaster]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89677 - still Renault badged engines, but Infiniti major sponsor.

[Senninha25]

It still confuses me that a brand like Infiniti decided to get in the F1 picture by sponsoring Red Bull, but I'm glad that the Renault engines will keep being Renault engines.
What a reaction it would be if Rolls Royce started sponsoring McLaren all of a sudden, but given that they're owned by BMW it's quite clearly a no-go

[d.rocky]

[QUOTE=Senninha25;2838390]What a reaction it would be if Rolls Royce started sponsoring McLaren all of a sudden, but given that they're owned by BMW it's quite clearly a no-go[/QUOTE}]

careful you'll start more rumors!

[Senninha25]

Originally Posted by d.rocky

careful you'll start more rumors!

oh if the press reads this they'll make it look like BMW bought out Mclaren!

[strider]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89677 - still Renault badged engines, but Infiniti major sponsor.

Beat you to it by over 8 hours if you look back!

[NaBUru38]

Red Bull has a huge sponsoring link with the Volkswagen Group, so I find this news strange.

Originally Posted by FIRE

If they want to promote the brand Infiniti they should enter DTM and compete against the German premium brands.

Yes if Infiniti wanted to promete the cars. But it seems that they want to promote the brand.

[d.rocky]

are they not promoting the cars by promoting the brand?

[kipper]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

Red Bull has a huge sponsoring link with the Volkswagen Group, so I find this news strange

Whilst Red Bull do sponsor a number of VAG programmes, the chance of one of VW brands wishing to sponsor the F1 team or supply it engines are, in short term at least, slim. As such, there is hardly a conflict of interest with the Infiniti deal. Also, I would suggest that the Red Bull sponsorship of VAG programmes is more to place itself in certain markets or promote the name in conjunction with certain events (such as the Dakar Rally) as opposed to attempting to build an association between Red Bull and, say, Skoda.

[gttouring]

Still RBR nissan/nismo is better sounding. Infinity is a silly name really they should let it go like Datsun and be Nissan big bad and unbearable.

[Senninha25]

Originally Posted by gttouring

Still RBR nissan/nismo is better sounding. Infinity is a silly name really they should let it go like Datsun and be Nissan big bad and unbearable.

it must be an attempt to make F1 look more luxurious than it is now. Just a wild guess though.

[cmotd]

Originally Posted by kipper

Whilst Red Bull do sponsor a number of VAG programmes, the chance of one of VW brands wishing to sponsor the F1 team or supply it engines are, in short term at least, slim. As such, there is hardly a conflict of interest with the Infiniti deal. Also, I would suggest that the Red Bull sponsorship of VAG programmes is more to place itself in certain markets or promote the name in conjunction with certain events (such as the Dakar Rally) as opposed to attempting to build an association between Red Bull and, say, Skoda.

+1, red bull already has a relationship with renault/nissan engineers so it makes sense to get involved with designing the new engines in the early stages. but as the proposed changes for 2013 are still just that, proposals nothing too advanced can be done. the 1.6L turbo thing might get dumped altogether in favour of cow fart powered v-twins or something

[andy666]

Originally Posted by cmotd

+1, red bull already has a relationship with renault/nissan engineers so it makes sense to get involved with designing the new engines in the early stages. but as the proposed changes for 2013 are still just that, proposals nothing too advanced can be done. the 1.6L turbo thing might get dumped altogether in favour of cow fart powered v-twins or something

Or full electric hybrids where the race will be held in two halves so the cars can be charged for 12 hours overnight !!

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by gttouring

Still RBR nissan/nismo is better sounding. Infinity is a silly name really they should let it go like Datsun and be Nissan big bad and unbearable.

Well are we all set for RBR's Buzz Lightyear special liveries at Monaco this year, or will it be Last of the Summer Wine??

I can't tell whether Infinity will appeal to the younger or much, much older generations.