Red Bull Racing: ‘Either Audi Is Coming Or We Are Out’ [Video]
From the archive: published May 14, 2015, 11 years ago. Details may have changed since.
It’s no secret Red Bull Racing has endured a frustrating — and embarrassing — year. With driver Daniel Riccciardo maxing out his Renault-provided engine allotment already for this season (drivers are allowed a maximum of four each season, per regulations), it seems the change from V8 engines to turbo V6 powerplants is too much for Red Bull, according to Digital Trends.
Renault has powered Red Bull Racing since 2007, and until the 2014 regulation change, the team was one of the most successful in the world, winning half of their starts, including the Constructors’ Championship four times and finishing as runners-up twice in that race. Red Bull is now languishing in fourth place in the Constructors’ standings with just 30 points, 172 points behind Mercedes, according to PlanetF1.com.
“If we don’t have a competitive engine in the near future, then either Audi is coming or we are out,” Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko told BBC News.
Despite his outburst, Marko maintains there’s been no definitive agreement between Red Bull Racing and Audi.
“There are so many rumours. Officially there was no request or talks. The VW Group first has to sort out who will be the new chief of support, who will run the brand of VW, and when they have sorted all these things maybe then they can think about what they are doing in motorsport. I was on the phone but not to the people you think.”
Who said Monochrome is boring? Check out a special gallery of the Team in action. http://t.co/u7dnPGgQxq #F1 pic.twitter.com/hSHPIm9RYE
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) May 14, 2015
Volkswagon has yet to establish its new leadership since VW Group chairman Ferdinand Piëch resigned. Piëch resisted partnering with any Formula One team, but with his resignation, Audi (owned by Volkswagon), is open to pursuing an involvement in Formula 1 racing.
Although no official statement has been released, there have been hints that the rumors are true, and Audi might bail out the failing Red Bull team. Rupert Stadler, CEO of Audi AG, hinted there might be hope for Red Bull.
“In life, you keep things open. We are already stuffed with motor sport projects but with F1, let’s wait and see. It is an option for Audi – not at this moment, perhaps, but it is still an option.”
Red Bull is contractually obligated to partner with Formula One through 2020, but as Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner explained to ESPN, “We want to try and sort the issues out. It is not enjoyable being in a GP today when you are just going round. The determination is to get back. The problem and frustration we have is not all of it is in our hands. We are relying on our partner and all we can do is support them as best we can to make the necessary steps.”