“This is not blackmail, this is a fact.”- Helmut Marko claims that Red Bull power unit problem is being undervalued and would unaffordable.
Red Bull is asking for the engine freeze 2022 ever since they have decided to not go with any other manufacturer and continue with the existing Honda engines.
The Austrian team argues that if Red Bull wishes to make a power unit by themselves from the scratch, but then it would be a complicated and expensive task, which they can’t afford to do.
While F1 hasn’t responded to Red Bull’s pleas, Helmut Marko has already started working on overtaking the existing supplies by Honda ahead of the next season.
“I was in Japan to draw up a financial concept on whether and how we can use the power unit ourselves from 2022 onwards. It looks like we can handle that,” the advisor says to Auto Bild Motorsport.
“The deciding factor is whether the engines will be frozen in their development from 202. Otherwise, we don’t have the capacity to operate these very complicated engines. This is not blackmail, this is a fact.” he said.
Rivals see it as a viable option
Since the day one, Mercedes have backed Red Bull for the engine freeze, but Ferrari and Renault had opposed it ardently. Although on Saturday, Mattia Binotto clarified that Ferrari is now willing to support the engine freeze resolution.
As of now, there is no updated stance from Renault, the only remaining engine manufacturer in the paddock to be still on the opposite side. But with the Big Three sharing the same cause, it doesn’t seem to be a hard task ahead to convince FIA and Formula 1 over it.
With the budget cap kicking in, engine freeze looks like a good option to reduce expenses for every team, which could convince the authorities to give a push.
