Since 2019, Red Bull Racing have partnered Honda after a messy marriage with Renault ended in divorce. However, it is interesting to note that the Austrian team approached Mercedes for an engine partnership opportunity.

Red Bull’s F1 debut came in 2005 and they used Cosworth-powered engine. A year later, they switched to Ferrari engines, which were not as quick either. Finally, they struck gold in 2007 when they tied with Renault. The collaboration lasted several years and four back-to-back championships on the trot.

Between 2010 and 2013 Red Bull-Renault dominated the proceedings, while the French outfit left the sport briefly. It returned as a full-fledged team in 2016 when it took over the Lotus F1 team. Since then, the Renault-Red Bull relationship took a downturn.

In 2014, Renault could not get the best out of its new power unit, and it led to Mercedes taking over the top spot. When the team returned in 2016, things between them and Red Bull got even icier.

For obvious reasons, Renault wanted to focus on its own interests and progress, in turn helping the 4-time world champions less and less. Naturally, Red Bull didn’t appreciate that and ramped up their Renault criticism. With their numerous reliability issues, Red Bull got even more ammunition and Renault’s grave became even deeper.

How different would a Red Bull-Mercedes partnership been?

The Austrian team struggled because of their limited options, since Ferrari were unwilling to deliver engines to a competitor. Meanwhile, McLaren sullied Honda’s reputation, but the Bulls gambled on the Japanese engine supplier. However, before that took place, Helmut Marko approached Mercedes and Niki Lauda.

Fortunately, the former F1 champion was open to the notion of supplying engines to the team. He welcomed the idea of encouraging some competition between Mercedes and the Bulls. All parties were close to a deal but it never got off the ground and the outfit trudged back to Renault.

Marko, Horner, Mateschitz and Lauda were all for the deal going through. Unfortunately, Toto Wolff and the Mercedes halted it in its tracks. The Bulls were annoyed at Mercedes for not fulfilling their promise and Lauda was annoyed that his own team pulled out.

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According to Motorsport.com Mercedes backed out because Renault offered the Austrian team another contract. They did not want to go behind Renault’s back and poach the deal.