M-Sport Ford World Rally Teams

[Fast Eddie WRC]

As expected, it doesn't sound like Oliver Solberg's Monster backing is compatible with M-Sport's existing Red Bull deal.

[Managarium]

As expected, it doesn't sound like Oliver Solberg's Monster backing is compatible with M-Sport's existing Red Bull deal.

Wasn't Rovanpera also sponsored by Monster, then he turned to Red Bull?
Fourmaux has only Red Bull logo on helmet, not on his car anymore. Could be this last season of his partnership with Red Bull?
Loubet also. When his Red Bull contract expires? Is it only one year deal? Would Red Bull backup a driver that is only good for crashing car?

[WRCStan]

It was widely-believed that M.Wilson paid Ogier out of his own (MSport) money as it was too much to get from sponsors alone.

Possibly, but I believe Ogier had a VW contract which they either paid out or were involved in this. If he wanted another payday from Red Bull he would need to keep active, and they might also have been involved in this. Toyota and Hyundai were lined up, the only other option was Citroen who had a star driver and a title sponsor. M-Sport had two never-wons and no Ford.

More likely they earned from Tanak in 2023 than they paid him.

[Kenneth]

Wasn't Rovanpera also sponsored by Monster, then he turned to Red Bull?
Fourmaux has only Red Bull logo on helmet, not on his car anymore. Could be this last season of his partnership with Red Bull?
Loubet also. When his Red Bull contract expires? Is it only one year deal? Would Red Bull backup a driver that is only good for crashing car?

I think you have to differentiate between Red Bull athlete and Red Bull sponsored car. Red Bull athletes have RB only on their helmet, while Red Bull also sponsors M-Sport's Rally1 program, so their full time drivers have RB logo on the car. I would bet that in Japan, Fourmaux will have RB on the car again.

[Managarium]

Thank you for clarification.
I've always wandered why Toyota doesn't have Red Bull logo, while all Toyota drivers have Red Bull helmets.

Anyway... I think that M-Sport Red Bull sponsorship is over. Red Bull is always associated with successful athletes and teams in any sport. In WRC they were with Citroen and VW at their peek.
M-Sport had potentially good drivers in 2022 and world class driver this year.
I don't think that Red Bull wants to be associated with crashes and technical misery.

[WRCStan]

Thank you for clarification.
I've always wandered why Toyota doesn't have Red Bull logo, while all Toyota drivers have Red Bull helmets.

Anyway... I think that M-Sport Red Bull sponsorship is over. Red Bull is always associated with successful athletes and teams in any sport. In WRC they were with Citroen and VW at their peek.
M-Sport had potentially good drivers in 2022 and world class driver this year.
I don't think that Red Bull wants to be associated with crashes and technical misery.

Difference here is Red Bull is aligned to the success of the series, not just one team's success. If they walk away from M-Sport it must mean they found another third team or M-Sport found a backer. Doesn't appear that these people exist.

[EstWRC]

[the sniper]

Anyway... I think that M-Sport Red Bull sponsorship is over. Red Bull is always associated with successful athletes and teams in any sport. In WRC they were with Citroen and VW at their peek.
M-Sport had potentially good drivers in 2022 and world class driver this year.
I don't think that Red Bull wants to be associated with crashes and technical misery.

I think you're overlooking that Red Bull are the Promoter of WRC, so should have a vested interest in ensuring that M-Sport are a somewhat serious third team/manufacturer. If they're going to channel money their way as Promoter, it makes sense to have them in their colours. Plus, look how many guys are on Red Bull pocket money deals, it isn't just the Sebastiens of the rally world...

[EstWRC]

Horrible season.

I think the puma is the worst car they have built regarding reliability, only one joker used during the season for bigger update and nothing more

And the sad thing is that the next season promises to be even more worse with their lineup

[trykmann]

Horrible season.

I think the puma is the worst car they have built regarding reliability, only one joker used during the season for bigger update and nothing more

And the sad thing is that the next season promises to be even more worse with their lineup

There is a lot of talk about young drivers having a possibility in M-sport to drive a Rally1 car. I am not sure if this is even a good decision regarding their career. It is difficult to estimate their speed, if they are given an underdeveloped car and don't have enough amount of testing before the events. In these situations the times are not coming, they are being pushed over their limits and accidents start to happen.

Compare Breen in the Puma to this years Sweden - a completely different driver. For example if next year would Mikkelsen drive the Puma, he would probably be worse than Tänak this year. Then there would be an ongoing discussion how he is not worthy a Rally1, he is slow and there are better drivers out there.