Red Bull motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko says the team could quit Formula One over current engine regulations.
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The four-time world champions struggled at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, with Daniel Ricciardo battling home for sixth while teammate Daniil Kvyat suffered pre-race dramas and was unable to start.
Team principle Christan Horner called on the FIA to reign in Mercedes’ advantage after Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg stormed home to claim a dominant one-two finish.
Marko warned that Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz could lose interest and pull the plug on its F1 operations.
“We will evaluate the situation again as every year and look into costs and revenues,” Marko is quoted as saying by Autosport.
“If we are totally dissatisfied we could contemplate an F1 exit. The danger is there that Mr Mateschitz loses his passion for F1.”
Marko hit out at current powertrain regulations, with Mercedes dominating the beginning of the 1.6L V6 turbo era.
“These power units are the wrong solution for F1, and we would say this even if [Red Bull supplier] Renault were in the lead,” he said.
“The technical rules are not understandable, much too complicated, and too expensive.
“We are governed by an engineers’ formula. We wanted cost reduction too, but it is not happening like this.
“A designer like Adrian Newey [who is stepping back from F1] is castrated by this engine formula. These rules will kill the sport.”
The Mercedes duo of Hamilton and Rosberg lapped all but three cars during Sunday’s race at Albert Park.
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