The Red Bull-Renault alliance is a story of immense success, bitter ruptures and a difficult comeback that ultimately left the French manufacturer in the lurch. What began as a mutually beneficial partnership in the mid-2000s ended in an acrimonious divorce, underscoring the intense pressures of remaining competitive in Formula 1.
The Days of Glory: Four Titles and 59 Victories
Renault's entry as Red Bull's engine supplier in 2007 marked the start of one of the most successful partnerships in F1 history. From 2010 to 2013, Red Bull-Renault was untouchable. Sebastian Vettel and the Adrian Newey-designed chassis, combined with Renault's power unit, delivered four consecutive Manufacturers' and Drivers' Championships. This partnership has racked up 59 victories, placing Red Bull among F1's modern dynasties.
Cracks Begin to Appear
Even during their dominance, the cracks were evident. Red Bull frequently expressed its frustrations over Renault's lack of power compared to rivals like Ferrari and Mercedes. Renault, for its part, felt overshadowed, with its crucial role in Red Bull's success often downplayed.
Carlos Tavares, COO of Renault at the time, spoke in 2013: “We are frustrated by the lack of recognition we get for beating teams like Ferrari and Mercedes.” This tension was bubbling beneath the surface, but the ultimate breaking point came with the introduction of the Hybrid Era.
The Disaster of the Hybrid Era
The 2014 season marked a turning point for F1, with the introduction of 1.6-litre V6 turbo hybrid engines. Renault's hybrid power unit has been marred by problems: underpowered, unreliable and uncompetitive. Red Bull, used to winning, found themselves in a desperate situation. Although Daniel Ricciardo took three wins in 2014, the team was a shadow of what it had been while Mercedes dominated.
Christian Horner publicly criticized Renault, saying performance and reliability were “unacceptable”. Meanwhile, Adrian Newey began to withdraw from his full-time role, disillusioned by the inability to compete with an engine that limited his design genius.
Public Quarrels and Fractures
By 2015, the relationship had reached its lowest point. Red Bull's dissatisfaction spilled over into public criticism, with Horner accusing Renault of failing to deliver promised updates. Renault, for its part, was angered by the constant attacks, saying Red Bull's rhetoric was damaging its reputation.
Efforts to bring in engine guru Mario Illien (formerly of Mercedes and Ilmor Engineering) to salvage the situation only widened the divide. Renault refused the upgrade package offered by Illien, further straining an already toxic relationship.
A Bitter Divorce
In a dramatic turnaround, Red Bull has terminated its contract with Renault for 2016, however, left without alternatives. Mercedes and Ferrari rejected proposals to supply Red Bull with engines of equivalent specification, while Honda's difficulties with McLaren made it an untenable choice. Forced to return to Renault with their heads down, Red Bull renamed the engines “Tag Heuer” to distance themselves from the failing partnership.
The Resurrection of Honda
Red Bull's transition to Honda in 2019 proved transformative. Unlike Renault, Honda took a more collaborative approach, catering to Red Bull's technical needs. The new partnership quickly bore fruit, with Max Verstappen winning the Austrian Grand Prix in their ninth race together. In 2021, Honda-powered Red Bull dethroned Mercedes, marking the start of Verstappen's era of dominance.
The decline of Renault
Meanwhile, Renault's fortunes in F1 have plummeted. Between 2016 and 2021, they recorded only one victory, a fortuitous victory for Esteban Ocon at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix. Renault's hybrid engine program never fully recovered, and the company announced its plan to close its in-house engine operation by 2025, with Alpine becoming a Mercedes customer team.
The Legacy
The Red Bull-Renault partnership is as memorable for its success as for its acrimony. While the duo conquered the F1 world together, their inability to maintain harmony during difficult times highlights the delicate balance of collaboration in motorsport.
For Red Bull, the move to Honda was the biggest vindication of all. For Renault, their glory days with Red Bull now seem a distant memory, a peak never to be reached again. As Max Verstappen continues to dominate, it is clear that Red Bull's bold decision to sever ties with Renault paved the way for its current era of supremacy.
