“This is not a blackmail”- Helmut Marko to FIA over engine freeze predicament

“This is not a blackmail”- Helmut Marko claims that engine freeze is in the best interests for all teams amidst budget cap decision.

Ever since Honda has decided to depart from Formula 1 in 2022, Red Bull has been demanding an engine freeze to prevent taking a power unit service from a rival and building their own resource using Honda’s available technology.

However, there has been no progress shown by FIA, which has led Helmut Marko to openly claim that it’s a “common sense” move for the governing body amidst newly introduced regulations.

“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 okay until we have written proof from the FIA that the development stopped 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 an obvious 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.”

Red Bull future in jeopardy; “This is not a blackmail.”

Marko further added that Red Bull might take drastic measures if FIA doesn’t agree to their demands, which will directly affect Alpha Taruri’s existence in the tournament for the starters.

“That would mean Red Bull would have to rethink its F1 situation drastically. 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.”

About the author

Tanish Chachra

Tanish Chachra is the Motorsport editor at The SportsRush. He saw his first race when F1 visited India in 2011, and since then, his romance with the sport has been seasonal until he took up this role in 2020. Reigniting F1's coverage on this site, Tanish has fallen in love with the sport all over again. He loves Kimi Raikkonen and sees a future world champion in Oscar Piastri. Away from us, he loves to snuggle inside his books.

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