Red Bull driver programme chief Helmut Marko has reiterated that Honda’s upcoming exit from F1 doesn’t mean Red Bull will follow.
Honda dropped a bombshell by announcing that they would walk away from the series at the end of the 2021 season, leaving Red Bull and AlphaTauri needing a new engine supplier for 2022.
Having achieved their aims of producing a race-winning Formula 1 engine, Honda have decided ‘to strive for the realisation of carbon neutrality by 2050’.
This leaves Red Bull with quite the dilemma going forward and plenty of solutions have been thrown about such as repairing the relationship with Renault, trying to get a Mercedes engine or even for Red Bull to take over from Honda and build their own power unit.
But one option that isn’t on the table is for Red Bull and AlphaTauri to quit Formula 1 at the end of 2021.
“We remain involved in this sport, as evidenced by the fact that both teams have signed the new Concorde Agreement,” Marko told Motorsport.com.
“Our ambitions for the remainder of 2020 and 2021 are that with Honda we continue to hunt for as many victories as possible and for a good position in the championship.
“Furthermore, we will evaluate with our teams what the most competitive solution is from 2022.”
Marko added that he has no ill-feeling towards Honda for walking away and understands the “challenges” they face in the automotive industry.
“Both Red Bull teams have built up a good relationship with Honda as an engine supplier in recent seasons,” he said.
“We understand Honda’s decision and respect the direction they must take in view of all the challenges in the global automotive industry.”
Remembering some of our best moments with @HondaRacingF1, and looking forward to what else we can achieve together ? #ChargeOn ?pic.twitter.com/FNT8cFGX8b
— Aston Martin Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) October 2, 2020
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Under the regulations Renault may have to return to powering the Red Bull teams since they have no customers lined up from next year, and the French manufacturer said they would comply with such a ruling.
“I can confirm there was absolutely no conversation to this point,” Renault F1 boss Cyril Abiteboul told Autosport.
“Being in the sport we are well aware of the regulation, and we have every intent to comply with the regulation and with our obligations.
“Obviously it’s a bit more detailed – we need to be requested, and we have not been requested yet, and secondly there are very specific circumstances, including timing, for this to happen.
“And we are still quite far from that window, which is not before the spring of next year.
“We know in F1 lots of things can happen in a very limited amount of time, and spring 2021 is still very far. All sorts of things can happen. As I say, we will comply with any obligation which may arise from this circumstance.”
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