Formula 1

Ecclestone: Dennis blocking Honda supply for Red Bull

Published Oct. 24, 2015 4:33 p.m. ET

Adam Cooper

Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone says that Honda wants to supply Red Bull in 2016 - but McLaren Group CEO Ron Dennis is blocking the deal from happening.

Ecclestone added that he and the FIA agreed with Honda that they would expand to two teams in their second year. However, McLaren has a veto on the identity of who that team might be.

"The honest answer at the moment it would appear that Honda is happy to give them an engine and Mr. Dennis thinks they shouldn't," said Ecclestone. "Although Honda has 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 the second year 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. I think he believes they may be competitors."

When asked how McLaren could have a veto, given the Honda/FIA agreement, Ecclestone did not point fingers.

"In fairness to Ron, he probably didn't know," Ecclestone said. "I am not blaming anybody. They are the facts."

Ecclestone was non-committal on whether or not the deal would go through.

"I don't know...Ron has said definitely not," Ecclestone said. "So, I don't know if his veto will stand up.

"They can only run Honda if Honda agreed, and they won't agree obviously."

Ecclestone also feels Honda has the engine Dietrich Mateschitz wants to compete with the other teams, but things can change.

"At the moment," said Ecclestone. "But, you don't know what next year's Honda is going to be."

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