Red Bull co-owner gave interview in which he admitted his motivation to stay in the sport is waning; "He’s said it how it is," team boss says
Saturday 20 June 2015 15:40, UK
Christian Horner said he hopes Dietrich Mateschitz can “re-engage” with Formula 1 after the Red Bull co-owner gave an interview in which he admitted his motivation to stay in the sport is waning.
Speaking earlier this week, Mateschitz said that he and his team were losing the “will and motivation” to compete given that Red Bull’s success depends on the performance of engine partner Renault.
The French manufacturer has fallen behind rivals Mercedes and Ferrari following F1’s shift to hybrid technology, with a power unit that lacks both performance and reliability.
Mateschitz’s outspoken comments come ahead of this weekend’s Austrian GP – a race he effectively bankrolls but which will start with Red Bull drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat at the back of the grid after they picked up engine penalties.
“His comments were all things I’ve heard him say in private previously. He’s gone on the record now and said it, and it’s exactly what he feels. He’s not dressed it up; he’s said it how it is,” Horner, Red Bull’s team boss, told Sky Sports F1 on Saturday.
“That’s obviously a worry for Formula 1 because someone like Dietrich Mateschitz puts so much into the sport – not just F1 but all motorsport – and we need to be able to re-engage him.”
Horner said Red Bull’s staff at Milton Keynes had no problem staying motivated but added that F1 must place less emphasis on engines and produce a more spectacular show if Mateschitz is to stay interested.
“They’ve seen the commitment Red Bull has put in and continues to put into the team. We want to sort this out; we want to move up the grid and everyone in Milton Keynes is working incredibly hard to get ourselves back up there,” he said.
“The problem that we have in this power unit dominated formula is that we’re limited on what we can actually do. So that’s why there has to be some change.”
Horner insisted: “Formula 1 need to have a good look at itself. As a show, I think we need to put on a better show for the fans. Dietrich, foremost and utmost, is a fan and that’s why he’s committed so much to F1 over the years.
“We’ve got to put on a better show. We’ve got to have closer racing and more of a challenge for the drivers – the drivers need to be the heroes – and get back to how it was.”
Red Bull aside, McLaren-Honda have also fallen foul of F1’s penalty system this weekend, with Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button both incurring 25-place drops on a grid of just 20 cars.
“We agreed something in Malaysia to get rid of the four engine rule but that was scuppered. It’s not a good situation to have big manufacturers like Renault and Honda publically berated in the way that we are,” Horner said.
“Theoretically, the best thing we can do is stop the car after the first lap and save the engine mileage. But we’re racers and we want to be out there.”
It has been suggested that Audi might take over the Red Bull team should Mateschitz decide to withdraw while this weekend has also brought speculation that they might switch to Ferrari power.
Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ however, Horner played down the latter suggestion. "I'm not aware of that offer at this moment in time," he added. "We have a contract with Renault for another year."
Don’t miss Sky Sports F1’s exclusively live coverage of the 2015 Austrian GP. The race begins at 1pm on Sunday, with build-up underway from 11.30am. No Sky Sports? No problem! Watch the Austrian GP for £6.99 with NOW TV
