F1: Mercedes rejects Red Bull engine deal

Red Bull is understood to have issued a document requesting a termination of its agreement that will be accepted by Renault. Given the severe breakdown in the relationship between Red Bull and Renault, and the unreliability of the French manufacturer's power unit, the former approached Mercedes inquiring about a supply.

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The Mercedes board has now looked at it, and AUTOSPORT sources confirmed Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche has decided to bring the tentative discussions to an end following his visit to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix at the weekend.

The thinking behind the move is Mercedes has waited 60 years to find itself in such a position back at the top of F1, and it has no intention of helping out a team with Red Bull's resources become a serious challenger to its success.

When asked ahead of the Italian GP weekend if Mercedes should supply Red Bull with engines, reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton expressed doubts.

"If we're serious about winning the world championship, probably not," said Hamilton. "Red Bull is a great team, but it's like giving Ferrari our engines. We don't really need it. We are good where we are."

Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff recently told AUTOSPORT the matter was up in the air as there were pros and cons to the prospect.

"Supplying one of your championship contenders with big resources, it needs to be carefully judged and balanced as to whether we would want to do that," Wolff said at that time. "But then from a global perspective, Red Bull is a really phenomenal brand that attracts younger audiences and consumers. Therefore you cannot wipe it off the table and say, 'From the team's perspective it doesn't make any sense, so we are not looking at it.'"

Mercedes' decision would appear to leave Red Bull with the sole fall-back option of getting Ferrari engines, although as of last week it is believed no approach had been made to the Italian marque.

Originally on Autosport.com