RED BULL AND PORSCHE

THE WHISPER IS THAT THE AUSTRIAN DRINKS COMPANY ASKED PORSCHE TO BUILD IT A TURBO V6



The word in the paddock in Hungary is that Red Bull recently approached the Porsche company - which is part of the Volkswagen AG - with a proposal to fund the development of a Formula 1 V6 engine that would be badged with another name. It is not clear what the name might have been, but the concept is sensible and is very similar to what McLaren's Ron Dennis did 34 years ago when he needed a turbocharged F1 engine.

Dennis approached Porsche on the basis that the company had a strong reputation for turbocharging and would be able to build a winning engine. It was agreed that Porsche would build an engine for the 1983 season and McLaren would find the money. The result was that McLaren was able to lure Mansoor Ojjeh's TAG company away from Williams, with the goal of establishing a company called TAG Turbo Engines, which would spread the word about TAG technology.

The Porsche-build TAG engines were used by McLaren between 1983 and 1987 during which time Niki Lauda and Alain Prost dominated the World Championship, winning 25 Grand Prix victories, three Drivers' titles and two Constructors' Championships. Honda domination began in 1986 and McLaren switched over and the programme ended.

The word is that the two parties were able to agree on money but the deal fell apart because Porsche wanted to retain ownership of intellectual property - and gain rights to other systems that would be developed by Red Bull.



The only logical explanation for this requirement is that the Volkswagen empire wants F1 technology for a planned project in the future.

It is believed, however, that VW will not come into F1 until Bernie Ecclestone has departed.