Red Bull confirms Renault power

Red Bull Racing has confirmed it will use Renault V8 engines in 2007, with its sister squad Scuderia Toro Rosso switching to Ferrari power.

The organisation, owned by Austrian billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, agreed a deal with the French manufacturer for a supply of engines back in September, but faced stiff opposition from Ferrari which wanted the team to abide by its current two-year commitment.

The Italian firm has since relented.

Red Bull's technical director Adrian Newey is believed to have wanted the championship-winning Renault unit for packaging purposes in his much anticipated RB3 chassis.

"Following the announcement of an engine supply agreement between Renault and Red Bull GmbH on 15 September 2006, Red Bull have confirmed that Red Bull Racing will use the homologated version of the French manufacturer’s RS26 V8 engine from 2007 onwards," read a statement.

"Sister team Scuderia Toro Rosso will be supplied by Ferrari."

It remains unclear whether STR will use a derivative of the unsuccessful Ferrari-powered RB2 chassis in 2007, or whether it will use a hybrid Newey-designed RB3 with Ferrari power.

Ten years have passed since Renault supplied two teams in Formula 1, when it powered Williams and Benetton to race victories, and Jacques Villeneuve to the world title.