From GMM
Red Bull's new sponsor deal with Infiniti was finally confirmed at midnight on Tuesday, but reports that it involves the rebadging of the team's Renault engines proved wide off the mark.
Infiniti is the premium division of the Japanese carmaker Nissan, which is also headed by Renault chief executive Carlos Ghosn.
Speculation had suggested a deal with reigning champions Red Bull worth at least $11 million, covering the cost of the team's customer engine supply.
But it is not a rebadging deal but rather a "marketing agreement" involving "technical activities" for 2011 and 2012, read a media statement.
It will involve "high profile" on-car and clothing branding, and "future technical collaboration" between Infiniti, Renault and Red Bull.
"The Red Bull Racing team will continue to utilise the Renault F1 engines in 2011 and 2012", confirmed the statement.
Infiniti's senior vice president Andy Palmer said: "There was no plan to rebadge the engines. Infiniti is all about being genuine - so rebranding an engine would not have been genuine. Renault will continue to be the supplier of engines to Red Bull, and our involvement is very much about working together on the car itself."
Red Bull's new sponsor deal with Infiniti was finally confirmed at midnight on Tuesday, but reports that it involves the rebadging of the team's Renault engines proved wide off the mark.
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| Photo: Infiniti Performance Team |
Infiniti is the premium division of the Japanese carmaker Nissan, which is also headed by Renault chief executive Carlos Ghosn.
Speculation had suggested a deal with reigning champions Red Bull worth at least $11 million, covering the cost of the team's customer engine supply.
But it is not a rebadging deal but rather a "marketing agreement" involving "technical activities" for 2011 and 2012, read a media statement.
 |
| Photo: Infiniti Performance Team |
It will involve "high profile" on-car and clothing branding, and "future technical collaboration" between Infiniti, Renault and Red Bull.
"The Red Bull Racing team will continue to utilise the Renault F1 engines in 2011 and 2012", confirmed the statement.
Infiniti's senior vice president Andy Palmer said: "There was no plan to rebadge the engines. Infiniti is all about being genuine - so rebranding an engine would not have been genuine. Renault will continue to be the supplier of engines to Red Bull, and our involvement is very much about working together on the car itself."
 |
| Photo: Infiniti Performance Team |