NOVEMBER 14, 2005

An interesting rumour from Germany

According to reports in Germany Volkswagen boss Bernd Pischetsrieder and Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz have been talking about deals in the future in Formula 1. The stories say that former BMW Motorsport boss Gerhard Berger is in the middle of all the intrigue.

It should be said at this point that there are regular rumours about Volkswagen but nothing has yet come of it.

The lastest rumour suggests that VW's Audi offshoot would provide engines to Red Bull Racing and Squadra Toro Rosso in 2008. If that is successful, so goes the theory, the German car manufacturer would then take over Squadra Toro Rosso and run the team with Volkswagen branding. The theory is that the Audi engines would be built for the German company by Mario Illien, although traditionally the company has done its own engines at Ingoldstadt where there is a large and very successful engine development department. Having said that when Mercedes-Benz entered F1 it did so hiding behind the Ilmor name. The other name that has been mentioned in relation to the project is former Toyota man Norbert Kreyer. In Austria there is already talk that Red Bull is going to develop a technology park for Volkswagen at the A1 Ring and logically this would mean that one or both teams would be relocated to Austria which would fit in with Mateschitz's desire to be a national hero in his home land.