Red Bull's ultimatum on 2022 F1 engine freeze not "blackmail"
Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko says that the company's stance on the proposed 2022 engine freeze is not a case of "blackmail."
The Austrian has confirmed that a deal has now been agreed for Honda to continue to supply the drink company's two F1 teams in 2022 and beyond.
However, the arrangement will only go ahead if the proposed power unit development freeze is introduced – and Marko stressed that if it doesn't happen, the energy drink company will "drastically rethink its F1 situation".
Honda announced at the start of October that it will stop its official involvement in the sport at the end of 2021, in order to switch its resources to new road car technologies.
With Renault the only other obvious alternative, Red Bull's management pursued discussions about retaining and rebadging Honda's power units in 2022.
From the start Red Bull made it clear that if it took on Honda's technology it would not be able to pursue the usual development programme over the remaining life of the current power unit formula.
New rules are due to come into force in 2026, although they may be brought forward by a season.
A development freeze from 2022, which would also allow all the manufacturers to switch focus to the yet-to-be-finalised new rules, has been under discussion over the past four months.
Mercedes has indicated its support for such a move, but Ferrari and Renault have been opposed, amid discussions on how all four power units could fairly be aligned under a freeze.
Marko says that the agreement with Honda is now awaiting the green light.
"Everything has been clarified between us," he told German publication Auto Motor und Sport.
"The timing is fixed. Everyone is in the starting blocks. But there won't be an okay until we have written proof from the FIA that the development stop on the engine side is coming."
"We are waiting for the FIA's decision. There should be clarification on that next week."
Marko insisted that a power unit freeze would be logical given the sport's overall focus on cutting spending.
"We have a cost cap," he said. "We are discussing a restriction and reduction in driver salaries. Only with the engines everything is to remain further open.
"What's more, the trend is clearly for the new engine regulations to be brought forward to 2025. Unfortunately, this engine was such a cost driver. Investing even more in it now makes no sense."
He added: "For F1, it's a very clear common sense decision. The engine freeze is the most important thing.
"The so-called safety net of alignment will certainly be more difficult. But if the development freeze is there, the whole project is already easier for us to handle."
Marko made it clear that if the Honda deal doesn't happen, the futures of Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri could be in doubt.
"That would mean Red Bull would have to drastically rethink its F1 situation. This is not a blackmail.
"For pure common sense and cost reasons, an engine freeze is the only way forward with these unfortunate power units."
Asked if there is a Plan B he said: "No, there isn't."
Additional reporting by Maria Reyer
Related video
Previous article
Bottas: Armchair critics motivate me to do better in F1
Next article
F1 owner Liberty Media raises $500,000,000 for buying spree
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Teams | Red Bull Racing |
| Author | Adam Cooper |
The Silver Arrows Story: Mercedes W09
Scuderia Ferrari Filming Day Backstage Footage
Back to Work | Valtteri Bottas' 2021 Seat Fit
F1 Explained | Mercedes Power Unit
The big questions of F1 2021 - Karun Chandhok
After an unprecedented season last year, there are plenty of questions and storylines for the upcoming Formula 1 campaign. Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok gives his verdict.
How McLaren F1’s new investors have already made an impact
The deal McLaren concluded with MSP Sports Capital last year which will help the cash-strapped Formula 1 team pay for much-needed infrastructure upgrades, also points toward the future for F1 itself, says GP Racing's Stuart Codling.
Why Verstappen isn't interested in the hype game
In a pre-season where Red Bull has been unusually quiet, Max Verstappen has also been guarded about the team's fortunes in 2021. Even after trying the RB16B for the first time at Silverstone, the Dutchman was careful to manage expectations
The pros and cons of F1's 2021 rule changes
In the strategy for grand prix racing's future, 2021 represents a significant step towards the goal of closer racing and a more level playing field. That's the theory behind the latest raft of changes, but will they have the desired effect?
What Red Bull is trying to hide with its RB16B launch
Red Bull made no secret of the fact its 2021 F1 car is an evolution of its predecessor, but in keeping the same foundations while hiding some tightly-guarded updates with its RB16B, the team aims to avoid suffering the same pitfalls of previous years
How Albon plans to fight his way out of Red Bull limbo
Alex Albon has faced the media for the first time since he lost his Red Bull drive at the end of 2020 and dropped out of a Formula 1 race seat altogether. He has a history of bouncing back from setbacks, so here's what he must do to rise again
Ranked! Carlin's greatest F1 graduates
Carlin has helped guide enough drivers to Formula 1 to fill out an entire grid, plus a handful of reserves, to create a remarkable alumni list. With Yuki Tsunoda set to join that group, Motorsport.com has ranked its graduates to grace the grand prix scene...
Why Alfa's 2021 launch says more about its 2022 plans
Alfa Romeo launched its C41 with a revised front nose, but there's little to suggest it will surge up the leaderboard in 2021. As the team frankly admits, it's putting its eggs in the basket labelled 2022 and hoping to hold the eighth place it earned last year
