Red Bull has dropped a playful hint about the potential name of its engine for 2016 which may not go down to well in certain offices of the McLaren Technology Centre.
In Abu Dhabi Red Bull finally confirmed it had signed an engine contract for 2016, which is expected to be announced this week as a renegotiated Renault deal minus the French manufacturer's branding. When asked about the name of Red Bull's new engine in Abu Dhabi, Horner told the BBC : "Wait and see what it is called, it will be something quite good. I don't think Ron Dennis will be too happy, but then he has not been very happy recently."
Some took that to be a hint the team would brand the engine with the name of its newest sponsor, TAG Heuer, which recently confirmed it has joined Red Bull after a 30-year affiliation with McLaren. That McLaren partnership included five seasons where the team ran Porsche engines branded as TAG, which powered the team to two constructors' championships and three drivers' championships in the 1980s.
Dennis recently revealed he told Horner to "suck it up" over his decision to block Honda supplying Red Bull with engines next season. However, McLaren's CEO may well need to do the same if Red Bull's hint turns in to a reality for 2016.
On Thursday Red Bull tweeted a picture of a coverless Red Bull with the message: "Swiss engineering to close the gap next season", a reference to the team's struggles with Renault in 2014 and 2015.
Swiss Engineering to close the gap next season. @TAGHeuer #DontCrackUnderPressure pic.twitter.com/Orx2odPFBw
— Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) December 3, 2015When the official TAG Heuer account was asked by intrigued Twitter users if Red Bull's picture meant its name would be on the team's engines next year, it simply replied: "Stay tuned to find out".