Marko threatens to pull Red Bull from F1 if Honda fails
- Published on 04 Sep 2018 13:49
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- By: Fergal Walsh
Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko has threatened that Red Bull will leave Formula 1 if its partnership with Honda fails. The energy drink team announced earlier this year that it would be ending its long-standing relationship with Renault to team up with Japanese manufacturer Honda.
Red Bull has struggled in the hybrid era with Renault, and now Marko says that Honda is the last roll of the dice: “We are pleased with the great cooperation with Honda for the coming years, and if this cooperation, for whatever reason, does not work as expected, then Red Bull will leave Formula 1,” Marko said to Speedweek.
Honda re-entered the sport in 2015 with McLaren but spent a turbulent three years with them. This season, it is supplying engines to Toro Rosso, Red Bull's junior team. The partnership has been somewhat successful with Pierre Gasly scoring a fourth-place finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix earlier this year.
“The cooperation with Honda has been running very well with Toro Rosso so far,” Marko said. “After the McLaren disaster, Honda was close to a departure from Formula 1 at the end of 2017 and we really had to convince the Japanese in intensive conversations that they could resume with us to start.”
Gasly will move to Red Bull next season, bringing with him knowledge and experience of working with Honda. He's replacing Renault-bound Daniel Ricciardo, who is in search of a new challenge.
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Replies (12)
Login to replyFreguz
Posts: 160
Bye bye then
Ricciardo is doing the right thing...
Patentprutser
Posts: 392
Nice thinking, only 4 cars fighting for the win...
Freguz
Posts: 160
Well that is more or less the case already today. I am so fed up with these threats, don't talk so much, work harder, or just leave!
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
"Sigh" Marko at it again...
f1dave
Posts: 782
Haven't we heard this before ?
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Only 20 times, if memory serves.
mcbhargav
Posts: 1,332
He is good for news.
KyalamiKid
Posts: 146
Maybe they can start a new series with ferrari then... Merc would love that, they be 1, 2 and 3 in constructors title...
kngrthr
Posts: 203
this is partly the fault of merc and ferrari who wouldn't supply red bull with an engine for fear of competition
f1ski
Posts: 726
What f1 needs is a spec block piston and bottom end. If the want go hybrid then those components be spec too. the trans ecu head are all proprietary. this will save money yet still allow development. Bring back pit stops wider range of tire choices and overboost/increased fuel flow to replace drs or augment drs but allow it anywhere on track. I think RBR frustration is great chassis piss poor engine no results
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
That will never be agreed to by the engine manufacturers. Their investment in F1 goes beyond just what's good for the racing. They all need to be able to justify their existence to the larger organizations by bringing real technology exchange from F1 to road cars. Ultimately their job is to help promote the brand and sell more road cars. When the specs don't fit the manufacturers ends then they move on such as the likes of Toyota and BMW. If the FIA or Liberty was to impose such specs on F1 then we would probably see several of the great teams leave which would not be a win for the sport.
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
Red Bull hasn't even put a Honda engine in their car yet and Herr Marko is already treating Honda the way he treated Renault for years. Honda should come out with a statement saying if Red Bull doesn't perform to Honda's expectations then Red Bull should leave the sport.