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Dietrich Mateschitz's thoughts about quitting formula one are apparently still alive. Last year, amid the arguments with Renault and dissatisfaction about the direction of the sport, the Red Bull mogul and billionaire reportedly thought seriously about pulling his two teams out of F1.
Ultimately, Red Bull is still in the paddock, but Toro Rosso's engine is a year old and the premier outfit is still with Renault -- on a one-year deal. "The contract with Renault allows different options," Mateschitz told the Red Bull-owned publication Speed Week.
He said the highest goal Red Bull Racing can aspire to this year is third, behind the "works" outfits Mercedes and Ferrari. But: "We are too good to be domestiques," said Mateschitz, 71. "And formula one is not the Tour de France. If we do not have a competitive engine, we will leave. We will certainly not accept fifth place for the next five years."
However, he made clear he doesn't blame Bernie Ecclestone for the situation, saying the F1 supremo's controversial recent criticism of the sport is "right". "It was not Bernie who drove formula one into the sand, but the manufacturers who dictate everything," said Mateschitz.
More struggling for Red Bull could therefore cost the brand its star drivers, even though Dr Helmut Marko has been warning that one of the current quartet could be dropped at the end of the year. When asked about a works team coming knocking for Daniel Ricciardo or Max Verstappen, however, Mateschitz admitted: "I do not care about the length of contracts. If someone wants to go, I would not be able to stop them." (GMM)
Grand Prix of Belgium
G. Zhou
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Replies (7)
Login to replymclarenfan1968
Posts: 1,027
Stop crying, you either take the Renault engine and deal with it or get someone else someone new to make a new engines for you, if you have the budget build your own so you have total control over the situation. You will lose seasons like Honda has but that's one way to solve your problems. When you are a customer you ALWAYS get 2nd rate priority and specs, it is just business.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Red Bull would do better with a number of new higher ups, the current pack is way too arrogant for their own good. Maybe it'd be good for them if Renault beat them with the same engine?
mcbhargav
Posts: 1,332
Its not others responsibility to deliver Red bull with competitive engines. So, yeah get lost. I am very interested in who will buy these 2 teams. May be Alfa romeo buying ToroRosso?
f1dave
Posts: 782
Not again ! Why don't they just quit, instead of the constant threats and let the rest of F1 move on without them.
khasmir
Posts: 893
For me this sounds like a little kid whining because he didn't get what he wanted.
They better get their act together for 2017, including a decent PU or they better just pack up and leave (RB I mean).
Pretty sure both F1 teams would continue to exist under a different name, they have too much potential to be completely dismantled.
Having said that, it would be good to have an independent PU supplier but it needs to be on par with the existing suppliers. A separate set of rules just doesn't make any sense but it has been quite silent on this front for a while now...
RacetoWin
Posts: 95
teams should have a non hybrid engine option.
just have a bhp limit. it would be interesting to see different engine setups like the 80's.
you could also give privateer teams a hp advantage since they dont have the funding factory team have.
there's more more waste on tires than there is with fuel usage, make tires last a race distance if desired and stop this lousy fuel saving game.
Pompey
Posts: 84
Do Red Bull really believe anyone would care if they go, from where I'm sitting they became just as boring as Mercedes while they were winning everything.