Red Bull engine saga racing ahead at Sochi

Red Bull’s engine saga is speeding ahead faster even than the cars on the slippery Sochi track on Friday.

The day began with the energy drink company reportedly still in talks with Ferrari.

But then reports emerged that while the Maranello team was happy to help the sister team Toro Rosso with a supply of 2015 engines, it was ruling out a deal for Red Bull Racing.

"Both Red Bull and Ferrari want to win the world championship," Bernie Ecclestone told La Gazzetta dello Sport, "so it is also in Ferrari’s interests to keep Red Bull out of the game."

The F1 supremo has spent hours in separate meetings with Red Bull, Ferrari and even Mercedes officials, although Toto Wolff insisted the German marque is standing firm on not leaping to Red Bull’s rescue.

"I can arrange for people to talk to each other, but I can’t force them to do anything," Ecclestone said.

During the second free practice session on Friday, a rumour then began swirling that talks between Red Bull and Renault were back on.

A more upbeat Ecclestone told reporters: "Everything’s being sorted out so I wouldn’t worry about it. I think it’s all been cleared up now. It’s being cleared up, whatever they are going to have.

"Obviously if they have an engine, that will be positive."

Asked when an announcement will be made, he answered: "I’ve no idea. When they’ve decided, they’ll come out.

"He (Dietrich Mateschitz) never fell out of love (with F1). He just wants to be in a position where he can be competitive. And that’s what will happen. He’ll be ok.

"He knows what he’s doing."

But Red Bull’s Christian Horner suggested the F1 supremo’s optimism may be premature.

"The great thing about Bernie is he seems to know a lot more than the rest of us," he told the BBC. "If he knows it’s all sorted, that’s all fine then."