Horner plays down Aston Martin link

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Red Bull team principal Christian Horner plays down the rumours that are circulating about a potential partnership with Aston Martin and insists the Milton Keynes-based team intends to honour its Renault contract until the end.

Last weekend’s British Grand Prix saw Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer attend the event, with Autocar reporting that the make was planning a shock F1 return through a deal with the four-time world champions.

“Andy Palmer was here this weekend on a Force India pass…,” said Horner. “The fact is we have a contract with Infiniti and Renault to end of 2016. Anything beyond the end of that agreement is pure speculation.

“Last week it was Ferrari, this week it is Aston Martin, next week it’ll probably be Honda or Lamborghini, so there is a lot of speculation.

“There is a contract and a commitment with Infiniti and we have a very good relationship, so anything beyond 2016 is purely speculative.”

Should a Red Bull/Aston Martin agreement materialise, this could lead the energy drinks giant to use Mercedes power units since the German behemoth currently holds a 5% stake in the British make.

When asked about the eventuality, Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff actually admitted he was “leaving the door open” to adding Red Bull as a new customer.

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