Breaking news

Formula 1

F1 risks losing Red Bull over post-2020 engines - Marko

Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko says Formula 1 chiefs must come up with an independent engine solution for 2021 during this year or risk losing his team.

Matt Beer

Edited: Apr 20, 2017, 3:01 PM

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing RB13

In a meeting between the FIA and manufacturers both in F1 and not currently involved last month, it was agreed that the current turbocharged V6 hybrid power unit format should be replaced by cheaper, simpler and noisier engines from 2021.

But speaking in an interview with the official F1 website, Marko warned that the championship's new owner Liberty Media must ensure there is a non-manufacturer engine option within that rules package to keep Red Bull in the championship - and that F1 has to get that plan in place this year.

The drinks firm's two F1 teams, Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso, are both currently customers of Renault.

"The latest must be 2021 that an independent engine supplier comes into F1," Marko said. "This is more than necessary, and the engine has to be simple, noisy and on the cost side below 10 million.

"We are talking about a much less sophisticated engine than what we have now, a simple racing engine. There are enough companies around that could supply.

"So we expect from the new owners together with the FIA to find a solution at the latest by the end of this season.

"If that doesn't happen our stay in F1 is not secured."

Red Bull, which like the other nine current F1 teams has signed up to the championship to 2020 at present, was a factory partner of Renault during its dominant seasons at the start of the decade.

But discord over Renault's poor performance and reliability in the early years of the hybrid formula took the relationship to breaking point.

While Renault bought Lotus to revive its works team programme, Red Bull held abortive talks with Mercedes, Ferrari and Honda during 2015 before returning to Renault and agreeing a customer deal under which the engines would be badged TAG Heuers.

F1 engine supplies have been exclusively provided by major car manufacturers since Marussia dropped Cosworth in favour of Ferrari at the end of 2013 ahead of the following season's rule changes.

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Read also :

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Previous article No reason to ban F1's T-wings, says Steiner

Next article Jack Brabham won first Canadian F1 Grand Prix in 1967

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

More from

Matt Beer



Ferrari drivers escape punishment for clash

Formula 1

Formula 1

Brazilian GP

Ferrari drivers escape punishment for clash



Hamilton accepts full responsibility for Albon collision

Formula 1

Formula 1

Brazilian GP

Hamilton accepts full responsibility for Albon collision



Vettel, Leclerc called to stewards over accident

Formula 1

Formula 1

Brazilian GP

Vettel, Leclerc called to stewards over accident

More from

Red Bull Racing



Red Bull called Christian Horner to thank him for F1 engine project after maiden win

Formula 1

Formula 1

United States GP

2 h

Red Bull called Christian Horner to thank him for F1 engine project after maiden win



The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026

Formula 1

Formula 1

United States GP

The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026



Employing team orders can simply be a matter of common sense

Formula 1

Employing team orders can simply be a matter of common sense

Latest news



Raul Fernandez still compromised after Indonesia finger injury: “I’m not at 100%”

MotoGP

MGP MotoGP

Australian GP

28 min

Raul Fernandez still compromised after Indonesia finger injury: “I’m not at 100%”



MotoGP can’t simply copy F1’s Drive to Survive success – Chase Carey

MotoGP

MGP MotoGP

Australian GP

1 h

MotoGP can’t simply copy F1’s Drive to Survive success – Chase Carey



Marc Marquez's mind games with Jorge Martin: "If you're fast, you don't need team orders"

MotoGP

MGP MotoGP

Australian GP

1 h

Marc Marquez's mind games with Jorge Martin: "If you're fast, you don't need team orders"



Red Bull called Christian Horner to thank him for F1 engine project after maiden win

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

United States GP

2 h

Red Bull called Christian Horner to thank him for F1 engine project after maiden win

Feature

Discover prime content



How Kimi Antonelli levelled up his character to be F1 2026's world champion-elect

Formula 1

United States GP

By Filip Cleeren

How Kimi Antonelli levelled up his character to be F1 2026's world champion-elect



Why Oscar Piastri has struggled to show his best with this year's McLaren MCL40

Formula 1

By Jake Boxall-Legge

Why Oscar Piastri has struggled to show his best with this year's McLaren MCL40



How levelling the playing field isn’t antithetical to the principles of F1

Formula 1

By Pat Symonds

How levelling the playing field isn’t antithetical to the principles of F1



Lights, Camara, action: How Haas picked F1's latest rookie for 2027

Formula 1

Singapore GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

Lights, Camara, action: How Haas picked F1's latest rookie for 2027

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts

Subscribe