Sky F1's Damon Hill says Manor's deal with Mercedes for a 'competitive' engine another kick in the teeth for Red Bull; Former world champion tips Manor to break into midfield in 2016
Monday 5 October 2015 10:09, UK
Damon Hill says Manor's success in securing a supply of Mercedes engines for 2016 has served to further highlight the problems Red Bull are having to ensure their F1 future.
Following several months of speculation, Mercedes announced on Thursday that they had agreed to supply F1's backmarker team with their power units from next season.
Crucially for Manor's chances of moving up the F1 grid, the multi-year deal includes the stipulation that the German manufacturer will supply them with same-year engines as their works squad. Manor have been running a 2014 Ferrari engine this season and been cut adrift at the back of the field.
In contrast, four-time world champions Red Bull remain without an engine deal for next season, with their relationship with Renault on the brink of divorce and attempts to source their own supply of Mercedes' class-leading units having failed to reach fruition.
Red Bull remain in talks with Ferrari but the Italian team are so far thought to have only offered their rivals a one-year-old version of their engine, a solution the energy drinks brand have made clear they are not willing to accept.
And Sky Sports F1 pundit Hill says Manor's Mercedes deal will only increase their frustration.
"This leaves Red Bull with a very interesting problem," the 1996 world champion told Sky Sports News HQ. "Here they are, one of the top teams, who were denied a contemporary engine and were told they were going to have to make do with year-old engines [by Ferrari], which clearly wasn't acceptable for them.
"What has been a boon for Manor Marussia clearly highlights the difficulty of the situation at Red Bull. "
"Red Bull were probably a bit too competitive for their own good. So you can understand the reasons why Mercedes would not want to give an engine to them. But they've also typically been pretty harsh on their engine suppliers, who have been Renault, so they have a reputation as tough customers.
"They are now left in a position where there are no engines currently available for them."
For Manor, a supply of the power unit which has dominated F1 since the inception of the current turbo regulations represents one of the most significant moments in their history since the team joined the grid under the Virgin name in 2010.
The Banbury-based outfit have also secured a technical tie-up with Williams and Hill reckons they now have the potential to start challenging F1's midfield in 2016. Were that to happen then one of F1's more established teams - struggling McLaren-Honda currently sit directly ahead of them in the Constructors' Championship - would be in danger of dropping to the back.
"It's a lifeline really for Manor and it's going to boost their chances of being a midfield runner at least next year," he said. "The package they're talking about now is going to be quite similar to what Force India had, they've had Mercedes engines and also a link-up in the past with McLaren.
"So Manor have a technical link-up now with Williams, so you can envisage them certainly knocking on the door of the top 15 cars on the grid."
Hill also reckons the two deals will increase the attractiveness of Manor for would-be drivers. The team are yet to fill either of their seats for 2016, but Mercedes protege and DTM title leader Pascal Wehrlein has been heavily linked with one of the drives.
"The team will be able to sell itself a little bit better so that typically means drivers with better budgets and maybe drivers who are competitive drivers and currently more experienced than the ones they've had in there team might be looking at Manor as a good team to go to," Hill predicted.
