So Dietrich Mateschitz has weighed in on his team's ongoing war of whinging against everyone involved in Formula 1 following Renault's ongoing lack of competiveness, saying that there are "no guarantees" Red Bull will remain involved in F1. So, thought might as well stick it in its own thread - do you think Red Bull will pull out? Personally I think they're too heavily invested, what with not one but two branded F1 teams as well as the Young Drivers' Program, and it has more than an air of similar previous threats from Ferrari - which ultimately came to naught. Renault, on the other hand - that I can see - much like with Michelin in 2006 it's not worth the investment for the amount of bad PR continuing in F1 seems to give them. Also, I don't buy the rumours they're planning to buy out / get a rebrand of Toro Rosso. But then again, as well we know, things change quickly in the fast-paced world of F1... please log in to view this image
I would care because they are one of the few outfits that have the budget and infrastructure to be a winning team.
Well put. In an ideal world, they'd both get taken over by 2 separate, serious owners. Red Bull? An utterly classless team full of classless individuals at the top... Horner, Matesich, Helmut as an example. The sport wouldn't miss their characters. Probably not too much of a coincidence Vettel has became more likeable since he started doing his own talking and not had The helmet telling him what to do all the time/ "handling" him.
Handled by the one-eyed helmet? Sounds excruciating. Poor Seb; now we know why he was always needing a new helmet. He does seem happier now.
My theory was he always changed his crash helmet because he developed a fear of getting stuck with yet another one like his manager...
I don't think you can accuse Mateschitz of whinging here, he's very matter of fact and to me, there's no bitterness like there has been from Horner. You can't blame them for considering pulling out. They invest hundreds of millions into their teams and it's money down the drain if they have no chance of competing. Renault are really at a tipping point as well. Do they carry on as they are, do they roll the dice, spend some money and try to get competitive, or do they withdraw? It would be a huge blow if either left. I'm sure both teams would soon be off the grid, a car maker wouldn't buy them because they'd need another company's power unit until they could develop their own. Could they survive as independent teams? Probably not, even McLaren are struggling for sponsors these days. I don't think there's another non-motoring brand who would do what Red Bull have done, certainly not on the same scale. The only hope is that Renault buys Toro Rosso as a works team, but that still leaves the Milton Keynes team with no buyer and hundreds of people out of work. I think the Austrian GP would survive though, I don't see why not having his own cars in the event would affect whether Mateschitz thinks it's worth paying the hosting fee or not.
All teams go through rough patches, almost none of them start throwing their toys and making threats. I agree that Mateschitz sounds more measured than the spiteful Horner and also that we should remember how many people's livelihoods depend on the teams but I think their energies would be better spent trying to resolve their problems rather than lashing out at all and sundry.
That's not really true. When Red Bull were winning McLaren and Ferrari were just as bad, accusing Red Bull of having everything from adjustable ride height to traction control. They never acted graciously in defeat. Also Red Bull's situation is slightly different. Like Mateschitz says, they can have the best car and best drivers but if they don't have a competitive power unit they'll be nowhere. And this is a customer part and one they're stuck with. They have no option but Renault. At the moment they're just waiting for Renault to get competitive, and every season they fail is going to cost Red Bull millions of pounds. The team also needs rebuilding right now given the personnel they've lost. It's only natural for them to consider whether it's worth the process if they're still going to have a crap engine at the end of it. The potential of Renault buying their own team is a threat as well. It would be a huge blow for them to lose their works status. I'm sure Mateschitz would love for nothing more than Volkswagen to approach him with an offer for the Milton Keynes team. Even then though, they'd have to go through the motions for a couple of years while VW build an engine to race with.
If it's all Renault's fault, then why is the budget team with the same engine beating them? And other teams complained because Red Bull were repeatedly cheating so it's not quite the same situation; McLaren weren't threatening to leave because of flexi-wings and EBD. It's clear to me that Red Bull have an entitlement problem but that's just my opinion and one you obviously don't share. Anyway, I do admire your loyalty; you don't happen to work for them by any chance?
All you need to do is watch practice and see their brakes being a huge problem yet again Red Bull have much bigger problems than just Renault. Or is it Brembo's AND Hypco's fault they have clearly designed a car with an aero issue that is stopping airflow into their ducts?
Yeah, I felt sorry for Kvyat having to trudge back to the pits. I feel for both Dans, so much potential that we won't see fulfilled this year at least. It must be hard for the team to accept that their imperial phase has ended but their attitude stinks. Vettel, by contrast, seems to have learned from his bump back to earth last year but then he has had the advantage of being able to move on.
Real winners don't cry and lash out at everyone in range because they are no longer winning, They get their s*** together, get their heads down and do what is required behind closed doors.
Well they weren't cheating, everything they did was within the regulations. McLaren didn't threaten to quit but like Red Bull they seemed more intent on having the FIA slow their rivals down rather than catching up on merit. And I didn't say it was all Renault's fault, clearly the chassis is sub-par this year, the point I was making was that Red Bull's destiny isn't entirely in their own hands, even if they can match Mercedes chassis-wise, they'll still be off the pace unless Renault can match Merc's power unit. And like I said, Red Bull are in a rebuilding phase, they've lost both drivers from their championship era, Newey's stepped back, Prodromou's gone and others as well. If they're going to commit to rebuilding their team they need the confidence that it's going to be worthwhile, and clearly they don't have that confidence in Renault.
So the answer is yes we would miss Red Bull - because there is very few (or maybe no other?) organisations that could fund one team (Let alone two) in the way they have in the past. Are we forgetting how much they have achieved in such a short space of time - shaking up the establishment which many resented prior to their arrival? The brand and company should not be tarnished by the likes of one or two individuals!
I have no love for Red Bull and don't expect them to still be here in a decade, but rather they leave later rather than sooner, because we need every half decent team we can get atm. There are some rumours about Renault wanting to get a full works team again. I wouldn't mind Red Bull leaving if they took over the team(s)
