Red Bull Accuses Mercedes of Developing Engine Despite Freeze

The fact that most teams were looking to secure a deal with German manufacturer Mercedes for the 2010 season of Formula One might have been caused by the fact that the Stuttgart-based carmaker worked heavily on their V8 powerplant amid the engine freeze that was implemented by the FIA in recent years.

At least this is how Red Bull’s design guru Adrian Newey looks at it, as the Brit insisted that the Germans haven’t been too fair in staying out of engine development through the past year.

“Mercedes developed very heavily through what was meant to be a frozen engine, whereas some of the others, Renault in particular, were very honest and said it's a frozen engine, it's cost cutting, we won't develop further,” said the Red Bull Racing official in a recent interview with The Observer.

Red Bull was one of the teams that wanted to change their engine supplier for the 2010 season, as their owner – Red Bull’s Dietrich Mateschitz – was critic of the Renault powerplants throughout the second part of last season. Nevertheless, when the German carmaker purchased Brawn GP in November 2009, all discussions for a potential deal with the Stuttgart manufacturer were ceased.

“We also looked at the Cosworth engine very carefully. In the end, Brawn and McLaren blocked us from having the Mercedes engine, but we became very satisfied with staying with Renault in any case,” added Newey, who hinted that his team is looking into ways of convincing the FIA to allow Renault to update their engines for 2010.