Red Bull "is considering terminating its contract with engine supplier Renault" at the end of the 2015 F1 season, according to Rencken, Parkes & Barretto of AUTOSPORT. Tensions between Red Bull and Renault, who have a deal through '16, "have increased as the French manufacturer struggles with performance and reliability." It "is believed there are performances clauses in the contract" and Red Bull is strongly considering activating these. Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner said, "We can't afford to have another season like this season." Another factor in the situation "is the prospect of Renault again becoming a works team." Buyout talks "are at an advanced stage between Renault and Lotus, with the possibility a deal could be confirmed by the end of the month." It "would leave Red Bull requiring a new engine partner, with Mercedes strongly mooted as the likely candidate" (AUTOSPORT, 8/22). FOX SPORTS' Adam Cooper wrote Horner "continues to insist that the team is still waiting to find out what Renault's plans are for 2016 and beyond, despite strong suggestions that the team has already made the first move to end the relationship." Paddock sources indicated that Red Bull "has sent a formal notice of termination to Renault, a move that would seem to indicate that the management is confident that it already has an alternative deal lined up, most likely with Mercedes." Horner "would not elaborate on suggestions that Renault has not met performance clauses in its contract with RBR, and that gives the team a way to get out of the deal." Horner said, "The contents of any agreement between the parties are confidential. ... We just want to know what Renault's commitment is. Whatever they do, they need to have a competitive engine, unless they stop" (FOX SPORTS, 8/22). REUTERS' Alan Baldwin wrote Mercedes Motorsport Dir Toto Wolff said that Mercedes "will not open any discussions with Red Bull about a possible Formula One engine supply until Renault's future in the sport is clear." Wolff: "We said, and this is still the situation, that we will not interfere into an existing relationship for many reasons. Legally, we don’t do this and it’s not the way we approach business in general and then you must not forget that Renault and Daimler go back a long way. ... We have a very amicable industrial relationship." The German manufacturer "already supplies four of the 10 teams." However, "financially-troubled Lotus's future remains clouded in uncertainty with speculation they could be bought back by previous owners Renault" (REUTERS, 8/22). In a separate piece, Rencken & Barretto wrote Renault "has held talks with Force India to investigate the possibility of acquiring a majority stake in the Formula 1 team." The French manufacturer "is evaluating its long-term options beyond its current engine supply deal with Red Bull and Toro Rosso that expires at the end of next season." Force India Team Principal Vijay Mallya said that Renault "asked for the meeting -- their second of the season -- and he met with Renault ambassador and consultant Alain Prost on Saturday night in Belgium" (AUTOSPORT, 8/23).
