“This is not the right spirit of competition or what Ferrari represents. We fight with everybody.”
Bernie Ecclestone, F1’s chief executive, has been trying to persuade Mercedes to supply Red Bull, but Toto Wolff, their team boss, has appeared reluctant throughout. They feared either being beaten by Red Bull or being blamed for their losses.
Since winning four straights drivers’ and constructors’ championships from 2010 to 2013, Red Bull have been a weakened force. Renault were caught well behind by the hybrid regulations which were introduced at the beginning of last year. Red Bull have won just three races since then and none at all in 2015.