Another big poaching from McLaren for Red Bull?

[monkeyboy1976]

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns16170.html

Could "Moneybags-Mateschitz" also tempt Kimi to the team?

[bernard]

I was just about to post this.
So now it's Adrian Newey, Nick Thombazis and Peter Prodromou. That's Mclaren's whole main design team! With a few exceptions. Paddy Lowe is also rumoured to be leaving. Most likely true.
Goddamn, I think Alonso made a big ass mistake in signing to Mclaren a year early. And that's not just a guess. If Mclaren wins in 2007 it wont have anything to do with their current pace. They are looking at hiring a whole new core design team. Good luck.

The signs were in the air when the design of MP4-21 was handed to a no-name designer. That seemed like an odd decision with all the talent aboard, but it makes sense now.

[manchild]

Well, Newey wasn't famous until 1992, so... there must be a first time for new designers.

[jgredline]

I recall RD saying neweys departure would not affect anything. Well, I think DC said it best. He intends to stick around in 2007 to sample the latest Newey car. That car with a Ferrari engine in the back will be lethal. I mean if the MP4-20 had a Ferrair last year there would be no question who would be champ. JPM.

[manchild]

Why combine Mclaren chassis and Ferrari engine when you already have all of those qualities it in R25?

[monkeyboy1976]

Sorry Bernard! 1-0 to me then.

Regarding Red Bull's future; the indications are very good indeed:- Loads of money, great design team.
However, if they want to win, they will need:-

1. A top line driver
They could capture Kimi but I am not sure how DC will take that for 2007 after all, he has helped the team greatly in building up to this point and would not want Kimi "stealing his thunder" with race wins

2. An engine partner that does not have it's own team.
Do you really think Ferrari would let Red Bull beat them? Same can be said for Toyota (possible supplier to Williams in the future?), BMW (too busy with Sauber integration) and Honda (who will have their own B-Team anyway).
Mercedes are very much in bed with McLaren. McLaren are also keen on setting up a second team (for Lewis Hamilton) which would most probably provide Merc with a second team to supply. So Merc is probably also out.
Cosworth are too small but changes to the engine regs may help them in future.
Renault could be pulling out as a team in the next few years. Their engines are pretty good aren't they. No reason why they could not become a partner to supply Red Bull and STR in the future.
If I was "Moneybags-Mateschitz", I'd be charming up to Renault now and saying "Want to stay in Formula One but not have to pay for it? Sell me some engines! "

[manchild]

Renault could be pulling out as a team in the next few years. Their engines are pretty good aren't they. No reason why they could not become a partner to supply Red Bull and STR in the future.
If I was "Moneybags-Mateschitz", I'd be charming up to Renault now and saying "Want to stay in Formula One but not have to pay for it? Sell me some engines!"

That won't happen because it is Renault’s policy not to re-enter same series on same level if they've already won all in that series. After their pulling out in 1997 as engine manufacture and before they returned they were asked will they return as engine manufacturer and the answer was "no".
For example, they never re-entered WRC, Formula 2 or Lemans either after winning all that can be won in those competitions. Also, even though they have won Paris-Dakar in 1982 as full manufacturer with Renault 20 they did re-enter as engine manufacturer for Schlesser and won on that level too in 1999 including off-road world rally cup in 1998.

[monkeyboy1976]

Red Bull have confirmed Peter Prodromou.

http://uk.sports.yahoo.com//27012006/13 ... cedes.html