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Rumour: Abiteboul in talks with Red Bull
- GPblog.com
Cyril Abiteboul is being linked in the rumor mill to a switch to Red Bull Racing. The former Renault team boss is said to be taking on an important role in the Red Bull Powertrains project on behalf of the Austrian racing team.
Red Bull has told GPblog on Monday that there is no truth to these rumours.
Collaboration on the horizon
The arrival of Abiteboul would be a very remarkable step, since Christian Horner, Helmut Marko and Abiteboul had a difficult relationship in the final years of the Red Bull/Renault partnership. The parties were clearly not happy with one another and the relationship ended in pretty sour fashion.
Red Bull and Renault ended the cooperation after the 2019 season, after which Honda became the new engine supplier for the Milton Keynes-based formation. After three seasons, the Japanese manufacturer are calling it quits on the Formula One adventure and saying goodbye to the pinnacle of motorsport. Red Bull are now taking the engines (with the help of Honda) in-house with the Powetrains project.
Abiteboul the perfect man?
That's where Abiteboul comes in. Red Bull would be looking for someone with experience and the 44-year-old Frenchman would fit that profile. Abiteboul, according to the Japanese site Autosport Web is being lined up for a top position within Red Bull Powertrains. "According to a source within Red Bull, after negotiations Abiteboul has agreed in principle to become head of Red Bull Powertrains and manage the non-technical side of the business."
In 2022 Red Bull will still be supported by Honda, but from 2023 it really needs to stand completely on its own two feet. A factory is now being built at a rapid pace in Milton Keynes, so that after next season everything will be ready to organise itself. For that, however, staff are busy. Dozens of employees have already been taken over from rivals Mercedes and now Abiteboul may be the next important recruit.
Red Bull visit in Abu Dhabi
Abiteboul left the Renault/Alpine team in early 2021 and has been employed as Mecachrome's motorsport consultant since May. His employment with the French company may thus come to an early end. Abiteboul was also spotted at Red Bull all weekend during the final Grand Prix of the season in Abu Dhabi. Will it come to a collaboration?