Is Redbull the architect of its engine problems?

[Nitrodaze]

"The situation is clear, we won't get any of the existing powertrains because all teams fear that we would be faster than their own works outfits.As we know you can't buy courage or sporting spirit."-Mateshits (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/121633)

Now there's going to be a bidding war to give them engines because he called them wusses .
They haven't really learnt anything from what's happening to them.

I think your quote is a good example why Redbull is struggling to find an engine. I doubt Redbull being feared is the reason that they are not getting an engine. They just rub everyone off the wrong way with their media antics. I cannot see how much good will such statement is likely to generate within the F1 community. If anything, they are showing why anyone should think twice about getting involved with them. They are kind of looking like krytonite to brand image of potential suppliers with their tactless comments to the media.

Toto Woolf did say that Mercedes did considered giving Redbull an engine supply but Redbull did not take up the offer for whatever reason, hence offered the opportunity to Manor. The truth is, they had great offers to keep them going in 2016, while they try to find a longer term solution but they did not take them. Reading between the lines, they had offers to take 2015 engines of Mercedes and Ferrari but rejected those for a 2016 Honda which would not be as competitive as the 2015 Mercedes engine.

If they think they have such a scary chassis, they should have taken the 2015 Ferrari or Mercedes engine which is faster than their current Renault and would be faster than the 2016 Renault or Honda engines. These 2015 engines may put them ahead of the Williams in 2016 in 3rd place of the constructors championship while they sort out a deal with Volkswagen or some other supplier.

With analysis, it is fair to say Redbull is simply demonstrating how not to do deals in F1. One thing is certain, if you had a wily saged head of someone like Ross Brawn in charge, this sorry state would not have occurred. They would have a Mercedes engine and they would be preparing to harass Ferrari for the 2nd spot or even hope to steal the championship from a Mercedes team that is known to make lots of mistakes.

Redbull need 2016 to regroup and they need a good enough engine for that period. Not necessarily to win the championship but to win enough races to be in the top 3 going into 2017. As it is at the moment, they may not have a Renault engine in 2016, if Renault decides to finalize the termination of contract from their perspective. They are still dancing around because they believe they may have a Renault engine to fall back on if all goes wrong. Or possibly leave the grid which would be their own fault really as they have not been exemplary in their handling of their engine situation.