Red Bull have always been big spenders in F1
In November 2004, Red Bull, owned by Austrian billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, acquired the Jaguar Racing Formula 1 team from Ford. This acquisition allowed Red Bull to enter the world of Formula 1 racing with its own team, which became known as Red Bull Racing. The team used Cosworth engines initially and has since become a prominent name in Formula 1
In September 1998, Vickers sold Cosworth to Audi. Audi kept the engineering, manufacturing and casting unit, which it called Cosworth Technology, and sold the race engine division, Cosworth Racing, and its electronics division, Pi Research, to Ford. In December 2004, Audi announced that it had sold Cosworth Technology to Mahle GmbH; the company was renamed as MAHLE Powertrain on 1 July 2005.
In November 2004 Ford sold Cosworth Racing to Champ Car World Series owners Gerald Forsythe and Kevin Kalkhoven. In December 2004, Ford also sold Pi Research to Kalkhoven and Forsythe, creating the Cosworth Group.
Red Bull Racing used Cosworth engines in its maiden year due to the ease of continuing with the engine Jaguar Racing used. TJ2005-specification engine that Red Bull started the season was producing around 910bhp - which is as good if not better than some of the big name manufacturers. It is understood that the 910bhp figure is up to 45bhp more than 2004 Cosworth engine was producing Furthermore, the jump in horsepower has not come at the expense of engine reliability. Although some teams are struggling with reliability, with Honda most famously having yet to complete the magic 1,300km distance required for two race weekends, Cosworth engine has already completed 1,800km on the dyno - 200km more than its own target of 1600km. In 38 race starts Cosworth powered Red Bull Racing to 21 top 10 finishes
On the back of the promising results from its 2005 engine, Cosworth had already put its 2006 engine on the dyno in early 2005, and initial reports suggest it could be producing around 850bhp - which is almost certain to make it a very attractive proposition for potential future customers.
In April 2005, Red Bull team announced a deal to utilise customer Ferrari engines in 2006. This coincided with a rule change mandating the use of V8 engines, making it likely that both Red Bull Racing and Ferrari would use the same specification engine.
In September 2005 Red Bull announced that it had signed its intention to buy the Minardi team. Acquisition was completed in November 2005 and the team was renamed as Torro Rosso with sole purpose of being a driver training team for Red Bull Racing.
Red Bull spent 2005 - GBP 82 million; 2006 - GBP 107 million; 2007 - GBP 130 million
Torro Rosso - Data not available but would have been between GBP 50 and 75 million
Cosworth with a decent engine in 2005 spent - GBP 45 million; 2006 - GBP 28 million; 2007 - GBP 15 million
The 2006 engine the first Formula One engine to attain 20,000 rpm on track was the Cosworth CA of 2006, and it is generally agreed that no rival surpassed it as the benchmark before rev limiting was cruelly imposed. An engine freeze was brought in at the end of 2006, Cosworth and Renault were the first to shorten the engine staff at their bases. Cosworth reduced from 350 in 2006 to 150 in 2007.
While Mercedes engine division continued to spend around GBP 95 yearly even during the many years of engine freeze.
While Red Bull would have got the engine division from Ford for next to nothing in 2005, their progress would not have changed for the Ferrari period of 2006 and Renault of 2007. However Renault had fallen behind 2008 onwards and a Red Bull funded Cosworth would have been just as good as Ferrari and Mercedes.
Red Bull success from 2009 to 2014 would have been no different as all the bells and whistles of blown diffuser would have been done in house with Cosworth. The engine also could have been branded considering Red Bulls involvements with many brands such as PSA and VW group.
Red Bull would have started the Hybrid era in 2014 in a much better position than in reality, Renault and Honda would have quit long ago, but Red Bull Champions Vettel and Verstappen could have never ended in Red Bull washout Torro Rosso.
