Red Bull could leave F1 if Audi does not arrive
If Renault does not improve its performance or if Audi does not enter Formula 1, Red Bull could withdraw from the grid, according to Helmut Marko.
Since the beginning of a chaotic season, the troubles between Red Bull and Renault suggest the end of the collaboration between the Austrian team and the French engine supplier. The arrival of Audi in 2017 could disrupt this historic relationship… unless Red Bull decides to simply withdraw from Formula 1.
Speaking to the BBC, Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s driver consultant, stated: “If we don’t have a competitive engine in the near future, then either Audi comes in or we leave F1.”
He nevertheless denied that contacts already existed between Red Bull and Audi: « There are so many rumors. Officially, there was no request or negotiation. The Volkswagen group must first decide on the identity of its leader, and when they have settled all these kinds of things, we can think about their strategy for motorsport. »
Recently, Ferdinand Piech, former president of the group, resigned from his position. The 78-year-old man was a staunch opponent of Audi’s entry as an engine supplier in Formula 1. Some see this as one of many signs of Volkswagen’s entry into the discipline, especially since Red Bull’s contract with Renault ends at the end of 2016.
