MANAMA, Bahrain - Is Red Bull about to lose the sponsor support of Nissan's luxury arm, Infiniti?
The World champion team is faltering on the pre-season test circuits and Germany's Sport Bild reports that Infiniti does not intend to renew its Red Bull deal beyond 2015.
Reports estimate the value of the deal, involving team naming rights and a conspicuous purple presence on the Red Bull livery, at the equivalent of about R620-million a year. It's believed Infiniti is baulking because it wanted to move beyond being merely a financial partner to the top F1 team.
HUGE BLOW FOR RED BULL
"We know Infiniti had hopes for a greater technical co-operation," Red Bull's Helmut Marko acknowledged.
Former F1 driver Gerhard Berger, a close confidante of team owner Dietrich Mateschitz, commented: "If anyone can overcome the loss of a sponsor, it's Red Bull."
The World champion team is faltering on the pre-season test circuits and Germany's Sport Bild reports that Infiniti does not intend to renew its Red Bull deal beyond 2015.
Reports estimate the value of the deal, involving team naming rights and a conspicuous purple presence on the Red Bull livery, at the equivalent of about R620-million a year. It's believed Infiniti is baulking because it wanted to move beyond being merely a financial partner to the top F1 team.
HUGE BLOW FOR RED BULL
"We know Infiniti had hopes for a greater technical co-operation," Red Bull's Helmut Marko acknowledged.
Former F1 driver Gerhard Berger, a close confidante of team owner Dietrich Mateschitz, commented: "If anyone can overcome the loss of a sponsor, it's Red Bull."