Mercedes builds Aston Martin's engines. SmileWavy

Yes, I know that. I happen to think engine branding in F1 is fairly stupid, which is why I made that post. I also don’t particularly like many of the modern team names. I much preferred the era when the teams were named after the bloke at the top.

Tonight’s IndyCar race more fun than all of F1 this year

GP today website is reporting VW has contacted Red Bull to discuss being an engine supplier with the Porsche brand . Interesting if it pans out as VW has shown interest in F1 for a while . Expensive arena to jump into , especially considering VW's recent emission scandals/fines .

But maybe VW sees this as a chance of redemption in the pinnacle of racing . Will be interesting to see if this pans out and if it is a success .

The Indy race last night went green the whole way I think. It had plenty of wheel to wheel passing.

It did go full green. Not uncommon for Indycar.

So Honda is leaving F1, so I guess RedBull will get a Renault engine again ?!

That could happen but that's not the only option . There is Mercedes and Ferrari . There may be an option to buy out the Honda F1 engine division and brand as something else . There may be an option for another engine supplier to jump into the arena like VW/Porsche .

I am sure the phone calls have started and there will be a lot of rumors . RB has a little bit of time to make it's next move but I am sure they want to have a solution in place as soon as possible .

Mercedes will support 4 teams, so they will supposedly be maxed out. Ferrari has a dog of a motor. Renault only supplies one other team, and that will change next year to just the factory squad. And there is some clause in the rules that states the engine manufacturer with the least number of teams to support must make their engines available to a team in need.

Renault is RB's only option

The big questions are, how do they hang onto Max and what do they do for an engine after 2026

I would be surprised if Red Bull were even still in the sport after 2026.

Red Bull also has the problem of wanting works engine supplier status. The last time with Renault, they whined about having to compromise with the factory team. That's one reason they were so happy to be back to works status with Honda. At least Renault has a half-decent motor this time. But if RBR wasn't happy that first time around, they won't be happy with having customer status again.

I could see Red Bull buying Honda's engine operations. That would make a heck of a lot of sense.

Did I hear correctly that Liberty Media bought a controlling interest in IndyCar?

Also, I would like to see three-car teams and/or customer teams back in F1. I'd like to see 30 cars to show up to every race and 24 qualify. I'd like to see last-year's Red Bull running a Mercedes engine and stuff like that.

I can't imagine the groveling Red Bull would have to do to get back in Renaults' good graces, after the **** they gave one another.

liberty bought a stake in an Indy car team, not the series.

They considered buying Indycar after Penske ought it but the price was too high.

Renault will have to supply Red Bull with engines if asked, and they've said that they'd honor that, but Red Bull hasn't asked.

Going to take some huge balls to approach Renault, after the shellacking they gave them. Glad that's not my job.

I hear you and I like watching indycar. But... I've seen both live, and it just doesn't feel that special at least on a road course (I iamgine Indy must be something to behold), feels like SCCA+... At Sears point I saw an entire indy race w.e and not long after a demo from a year old mercedes F1 car (driven by Guttierez if I recall). The F1 car (acceleration, braking, even noise) was more alien and impressive than the entire field of Indycars... It looks and drives like an exotic animal - indycars looked like a corolla by comparison, side by side... But yeah I enjoy it on TV, good racing except for the weird yellow rules / pit closures...
On both sides I miss n.a. engines... Turbos are big mistake for a spectator sport !

Honda feels different about IndyCar, dropped F1 in favor of Indycar

I’ve not seen either in person. Been watching both since the early 90s and hope to see both in person soon. The v10 and 12s .... I wish I could have heard them.

Looks like FP1 session was cancelled due to weather ☹️ , too bad for the F2 young guns that were to practice .