Bernie Ecclestone has revealed that McLaren chairman Ron Dennis is using his veto powers to stop Honda from supplying Red Bull with engines in 2016.
The Red Bull outfit is desperately seeking a new supplier to replace Renault, and with both Ferrari and Mercedes refusing, their only option looks to be the Japanese company.
However it has an exclusive deal with McLaren for 2015 and it’s believed Dennis has veto powers over suppling a rival team in 2016, which Ecclestone says the Briton is using to ensure his team remain Honda’s sole focus.
“The honest answer at the moment it would appear that Honda are happy to give them an engine and Mr Dennis thinks they shouldn’t,” said the 84-year-old.
“Although Honda have got an agreement with the FIA and myself that they would allow them into F1 to supply engines to one team for first year, two teams second and three teams the third.
“And they somehow got involved and made a commitment to Ron that he had a veto on any engines, and he doesn’t want Red Bull.
“He doesn’t want them. I think he believes they may be competitors.”
Ecclestone is therefore unsure as to whether or not the deal will go ahead.
“I don’t know… Ron has said definitely not. I don’t know if his veto will stand up.
“They [Red Bull] can only run Honda if Honda agreed and they won’t agree obviously and have an argument with Ron, because Ron will [law] suit them.”
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