Red Bull Racing sign deal with Infiniti

[xpensive]

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French Renault are based in Viry-Chatillion AFAIK. Enstone isn't owned by Renault any more.
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Indeed WB, am I all alone thinking that Dieter Mateschitz' team has effectively become factory-backed by Renault?

This gives an interesting spin on VW's possible involvement as from 2013, doesn't it?

[WhiteBlue]

French Renault are based in Viry-Chatillion AFAIK. Enstone isn't owned by Renault any more.

Indeed WB, am I all alone thinking that Dieter Mateschitz' team has effectively become factory-backed by Renault? This gives an interesting spin on VW's possible involvement as from 2013, doesn't it?

I'm under the impression that Piech is still not satisfied with the cost situation in F1. He is rather like Branson. Get much and pay little or nothing.

I see three alternatives for Red Bull. Wait and see how the Renault and other engines pan out or they go and commission Porsche to build them an F1 engine of their own like McLaren did. Finally they can buy a racing engine firm and found their own Red Bull power technologies. Mateschitz is certainly strong enough to find a way to do it all by himself.

[donskar]

Off topic, I know, but :

BTW: "Lexus" = Luxury Export US"

Really? I know I am sourcing Wikipedia here (so it is hardly authoritative) but here is a surprisingly detailed explanation of how the Lexus name was derived :

In 1986, Toyota’s longtime advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi formed a specialized unit, Team One, to handle marketing for the new premium brand. Image consulting firm Lippincott & Margulies was hired to develop a list of 219 prospective names; Vectre, Verone, Chaparel, Calibre and Alexis were chosen as top candidates. While Alexis quickly became the front runner, concerns were raised that the name applied to people more than cars (being associated with the Alexis Carrington character on the popular 1980s primetime drama Dynasty), and as a result the first letter was removed and the "i" replaced with a "u" to morph the name to Lexus. The marque's etymology has also been attributed to the combination of the words "luxury" and "elegance," and another theory claims it is an acronym for "luxury exports to the U.S." According to Team One interviews, the name has no specific meaning and simply denotes a luxurious and technological image

This fits with the marketing report that I read on the topic 20 years ago, but it wouldn't surprise me if the acronym story really was true and the rest of the story was made up by ad execs who wanted to justify their exorbitant consulting fees

FWIW, I got "Lexus" = "Luxury Export US" from a Toyota corporate director.

[xpensive]

Staying on the independent path for a bit WB, how you consider Newey's relations with Mario Ilien since his McLaren days?

I recall that at least part of Ford/Jaguar's lure to Newey some ten years ago was for him to be able to "do a Barnard", designing the engine as well, that time together with Cosworth? How about an RBR-Ilmor I-4 for 2013?

[CyleB]

The re-branding of the engines, is nothing more than a PR move. Infiniti wants to become a more globally recognized company, there for they are putting their name on a team that would travel to several countries throughout the year. Infiniti is planning to develop a engine for the 2013 season, if the partnership was to be fruitful in the 2011 and 2012 seasons.