09/04/2015
NEWS STORY
Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has warned that unless his team is competitive he will withdraw from F1.
Speaking to the Austrian Press Agency, Mateschitz, almost word for word, echoed comments made by his motorsport consultant, Helmut Marko, following the team's dismal performance in Australia.
At the time, Marko told the Austrian media: "We will evaluate the situation again in the summer as every year and look into costs and revenues. If we are totally dissatisfied we could contemplate an F1 exit. "The danger is there that Mr Mateschitz loses his passion for F1."
Clearly seeking not to appear as though the 'threat' was the work of a sore loser (as if!), the Austrian added. "These power units are the wrong solution for Formula One, and we would say this even if Renault were in the lead. The technical rules are not understandable, they are much too complicated, and too expensive.
"We are governed by an engineers' formula," he added. "We wanted cost reduction too, but it is not happening like this. A designer like Adrian Newey is castrated by this engine formula. These rules will kill the sport."
Now, Mateschitz has admitted that Marko's was no idle threat.
"We'll only stay in Formula One if we have a competitive team, and we need a competitive power unit for that," he said. "If we don't have one, we can race with the best car and the best drivers and still have no chance of competing for victory.
"Of course Renault can also weigh its options, including a pull out," he added. "As a manufacturer, it's your task to deliver a competitive power unit. If you can do that, it's great. If, for whatever reason, you can't do that, you should pull out. Then the consequences for us would be clear, too."
Again, reiterating comments made by Marko, this time relating to the possibility of Red Bull building its own engines, he said: "We are not a car manufacturer who could justify the investment. So we rely on Renault to close the gap to Ferrari and, above all, Mercedes."
And some believe this company could - indeed, should - buy F1?
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