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Red Bull Takes One More Step to Mercedes Deal

Red Bull Racing is one step closer to securing an engine deal with Mercedes for the upcoming season of Formula One. Nothing is yet official, of course, but team principal Christian Horner's latest comments regarding his team's future engine partner lead towards the German manufacturer.

Talking to the latest edition of Germany's Auto Build, and reported by the GMM news agency, Horner was nothing but complimentary of the Mercedes power plants. Most recently, it has emerged that the BGP 001 used by Jenson Button to win three consecutive race this season – Bahrain, Spain and Monaco – was powered by the same Mercedes FO 108W unit.

That made the aforementioned power plant the most effective engine in F1's history.

The Mercedes engine is good, but there is no time pressure,” Horner was quoted as saying by the Auto Bild. “Brawn demonstrated that it is possible to change engine even at a late stage,” added the British team principal, who admitted a final decision on the team's future engine partner will be taken late in the season or during the upcoming winter.

Red Bull's decision to find another engine supplier for 2010 is one more reason to believe Renault will not stay in Formula One for the long run.

During the FIA – FOTA dispute earlier this year, it has surfaced in the media that Flavio Briatore was very interested in purchasing the Enstone based team from the French manufacturer, while continuing to use their engine in the series. As announced by the FIA, however, this will not happen at least for another year, as Renault have been confirmed as an F1 manufacturer for 2010 also.

Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Brawn GP are currently the only teams with the TBD (to be determined) manufacturer mark for the 2010 Formula One Championship.
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