2015 Ferrari engine ’acceptable’ for Toro Rosso

The talk in the Sochi paddock on Friday is all about Red Bull.

And the rumours are developing by the minute. One is that Ferrari has now ruled out working with the premier crisis-struck energy drink owned team in 2016, even though it is prepared to offer a 2015-spec engine to sister squad Toro Rosso.

"We know it’s late, so the option of using the 2015 specification Ferrari power unit in 2016 will be acceptable to us," boss Franz Tost is quoted by Russia’s Championat.

Where that leaves Red Bull Racing is anybody’s guess, as speculation swirls that if Dietrich Mateschitz does decide to pull the Milton-Keynes based team out, Renault might even buy it.

Hours of meetings have been held at Sochi so far on Friday, the headline one being between Bernie Ecclestone and Red Bull chiefs, preceding the F1 supremo sitting with Mercedes’ Niki Lauda.

And on Thursday, it is believed Ecclestone also met with Ferrari’s Sergio Marchionne.