Grumpy Owner of Red Bull Says They Might Quit F1

"Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)" (thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 15:17 • Filed to: FORMULA 1, RED BULL RACING, F1

This evening the BBC are reporting that Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has said that he and his company are very unhappy with how Formula 1 is currently run and could pull out of the sport.

The BBC has taken the news directly from the the Austrian newspaper 'Kurier' in which Mateschitz stated that there is a "clear limit to what we can accept" when asked about issues with sportsmanship and political influence.

Mateschitz also launched himself into the debate on the current state of F1, saying; "You have to make F1 like it used to be - the top discipline of motorsports, F1 is not there to set new records in fuel consumption, nor to make it possible to have a whispered conversation during a race. It is absurd to race a lap seconds slower than last year. GP2 partially provides more racing and fighting and almost equal lap times as F1 with a small fraction of the budget."

The problem this guy has at the moment is that he's immensely annoyed that his car was disqualified from the race results in Australia, and his designers and engineers haven't delivered a car as competitive as the last few years.

The FIA warned Red Bull before the race to use the readings from the FIA fuel sensors and not their own. Red Bull chose to ignore them. It should have come has no surprise to them when they were then disqualified after the race. The only person to feel sorry for in all of this is Daniel Ricciardo, who drove fantastically well the whole weekend.

It shows a serious lack of class to come out in the media and threaten to quit the sport as soon as things start getting a bit tough for you. Toughen up, get things going and start winning again. It's how things go in Formula 1. Just because you have a lot of money invested in the sport doesn't mean you should be allowed to throw your weight around and threaten to walk out on it because you ignored instructions from the people who make the damn rules in the first place.

Source: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

DISCUSSION (56)

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 15:19

What a douchebag. Gets beat by Marussia in one race and then threatens to take his toys home.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
03/24/2014 at 15:20

My thoughts exactly.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 15:21

Just because you have a lot of money invested in the sport doesn't mean you should be allowed to throw your weight around and threaten to walk out on it because you ignored instructions from the people who make the damn rules in the first place.

He just thinks he runs Ferrari .

abrahamd > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 15:25

"...Mateschitz stated that there is a "clear limit to what we can accept" when asked about issues with sportsmanship and political influence."

Yeah, so basically, if the odds aren't stacked in your favor, it's not worth it to you. Every other team is having to deal with the exact same complications RBR has (except they're not trying to bypass the rules), and they are doing so without being gaping vaginas. Fuck off, guy.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 15:26

While I agree he's being a petulant brat, what if he really does leave?

This would have a huge media impact. Perhaps it would even lead to some positive changes at the top; like maybe people might even start to think that Bernie needs to leave. This planet.

lone_liberal > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 15:27

While they guy is clearly being a whiny baby I agree with his criticisms of the current regs.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Where have all the lightweights gone?
03/24/2014 at 15:28

Ferrari shouldn't get special treatment either. At least in the last couple seasons they've not been on top of their game we haven't had them threatening to walk out (again!)

TheCraigy > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 15:29

Would this be a bad thing? They need to buy Mercedes engines next year and keep up ;)

Less money in the sport is probably bad, but all of their talent would spread to the other teams.

If we were losing a great historic F1 team like Ferrari or Williams I would be more likely to give a damn. The energy drink team has done well but I don't really care if it goes away.

For Sweden > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 15:29

This is almost as sad as when Red Bull tried to compete in NASCAR.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
03/24/2014 at 15:29

The problem is he owns Infiniti Red Bull and Toro Rosso. He also owns a lot of 'stuff' (I don't really know exactly what, I'm sure some rally guys here in the community can help!) in the WRC. He helps motorsport run. Oil in the machine.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > abrahamd
03/24/2014 at 15:30

That's how I feel, but if he goes and takes his special Red Bull toys away then there's going to be a lot of trouble.

Although Bernie will probably sue the heck out of him!

Z_Stig > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 15:33

At least Ferrari has some history in the sport and at the end of the day still makes cars and not energy drinks.

Destructive Tester > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 15:33

Wow, talk about throwing the toys out of the crib!
You got caught cheating, you were given MORE THAN ONE opportunity to rectify it and ignored the FIA, get over it. If you should be upset with anyone it should be directed at Christian Horner for choosing to disregard the FIA's warning.

NOTE: I'm not even talking about any perceived inaccuracy with the flow meters, anything manufactured has an accepted tolerance and it's up to the teams to decide how close they want to cut into their margin of safety for legality sake.

Slave2anMG > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 15:33

He's sounding like a sore loser but otherwise I agree with him about noise, fuel consumption, etc.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > lone_liberal
03/24/2014 at 15:33

Yeah, some people obviously don't like the current regulations and that's fair enough. They aren't for everybody and that's personal opinion. I don't have a problem with him for expressing that.

I just have a problem with him losing one race and having a car disqualified (even though his team knew it would be) and then crying his little eyes out about it and threatening to walk out on the sport. It's showing a total lack of class.

lone_liberal > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 15:35

Yep, I totally agree with you.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 15:35

I really want someone to start calling-out Bernie for the asshole troll that he is.

And considering the pile of money he's got, only someone else with an equally large pile will get him to listen.

Dick measuring knows no bank account balance limits.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > For Sweden
03/24/2014 at 15:36

You know, I thought I saw a Red Bull NASCAR on Gran Turismo once...

I loved visiting the NASCAR Hall of Fame by the way, as an Englishman not knowing a lot about the sport (it's not really broadcast in the UK) it was fascinating and actually very inspiring. I was so pleased I went.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Z_Stig
03/24/2014 at 15:37

That's true. I suppose it would be like Manchester United walking out on the English Premier League, or the Green Bay Packers walking out on the NFL? (Hope I got that right!)

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Slave2anMG
03/24/2014 at 15:40

I like that actual sound, but the noise isn't good. It needs to be louder. Make the sound they make louder if it's possible and then we're good. The actual sound isn't that bad though. It's just as it stands the cars don't have that same God-amongst-men feel that Formula 1 cars previously had.

You stepped out of your road car, got to the track and heard the F1 cars. You knew that those machines were the Gods, and your road cars were just the men. It's the same sort of thing with the drivers and the ordinary people in terms of driving ability at least.

For Sweden > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 15:41

Kinja'd!!!

Red Bull formed, funded, and operated a NASCAR team from 2006 to 2011. In five seasons they won two races.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > TheCraigy
03/24/2014 at 15:42

It's a bad thing because he would take two teams out of the sport and a huge amount of money. Anytime that a large amount of money leaves the sport is a bad thing.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > For Sweden
03/24/2014 at 15:44

That's a pretty poor record then. I assume they pulled out because he got bored of waiting for trophies?

For Sweden > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 15:45

I think they pulled out because they were sick of sucking at NASCAR, so yes.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Destructive Tester
03/24/2014 at 15:48

I sincerely hope this appeal gets thrown back in their faces (I expect it will be) and he gets threatened with a nice lump of good old fashioned Bernie-style legal action if he even thinks of leaving.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > For Sweden
03/24/2014 at 15:49

The only thing that seems to suck is their attitude right now.

For Sweden > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 15:49

That and Vettel's engine reliability

t_s > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 15:50

Bye dear, be a sweetheart and shut the door when you're done pissing off.

Mikeado > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 15:55

I seriously doubt they actually will leave, but hey, it grabs them a few headlines. I agree with your stance on it, though.

Merkin Muffley > Destructive Tester
03/24/2014 at 15:59

Merkin Muffley > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 16:02

Kinja'd!!!

Regardless of the bull's color, the "end" result is the same.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Mikeado
03/24/2014 at 16:07

I honestly don't think they will either, but it's more the big guy throwing his weight around trying to get the FIA to give him his 2nd place back. My guess is that his team don't actually have anything significant coming for the next few races and he needs every point he can get in the meantime.

So that means having a baby-style tantrum to try and get his own way. The owner of two teams and a man of his standing should really act with more class than this.

pirates-ecu > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 16:08

and everyone will be happy if the cheating pieces of shit quit....

Seriously a grown man saying i don't like the rules, i'm taking my toys and going home,

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > t_s
03/24/2014 at 16:10

I think I speak for the majority of the men in this community when I say...

That sounds familiar.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > pirates-ecu
03/24/2014 at 16:12

I wish it was that simple, but Mr M has so much money in the sport that if he ever did (I don't think he would) then it would cause enormous trouble for the sports of F1 and WRC, where he also has a lot of interests.

If he falls out with the FIA big style he could pull out of everything I suppose.

Grindintosecond > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 16:14

Ferrari playbook no.1: threaten to leave if rules dont go your way...even build and test an indycar if you have to. Red bull just look like whiners. Drink sales must dip with performance or he wouldnt have said anything to get attention. Or...his friends are teasing him from all his big pregame trash talking.

pirates-ecu > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 16:16

we would still have 18 cars on the grid. I'M fine with that .

my hatred for the cheating assholes runs so deep i hope the factory burns down with vettel, and this cunt bag inside...

Ricardo can be outside with some marshmallows ( hes cool)

pirates-ecu > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 16:17

dual turbos tend to muffle the sound. Id rather the power of the exhaust be used, then wasted as noise....

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Grindintosecond
03/24/2014 at 16:19

Have Monster or any Coke branded drinks had a good start to any motorsport events this season? I'm just wondering if that's why he's annoyed. Is there a way to find out?

It's a shame no coffee manufacturers sponsor any cars really then we could all support them as the natural choice!

If he'd just kept calm and said the right thing, I'd have respected him. But instead he's come across looking like a sore loser and showing a lack of class. He is a very important man and he should act better.

Dusty Ventures > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 16:39

Translation: "We might not win the championship this year. That's unacceptable!"

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Dusty Ventures
03/24/2014 at 16:42

Followed by a squeeze of a half full Red Bull before throwing it on the ground.

Jonathon Klein > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 17:20

He still has a chance to win a lot. Ricciardo shows great potential and they just need to fix the cars!

TheCraigy > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 17:37

Yeah money is big but I think F1 would easily survive. It would also make the sport more affordable as fae as the cost of talent. It also might open the door for three car teams which bernie, ferrari, et al had been pushing for previously.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Jonathon Klein
03/24/2014 at 17:45

I agree! I think they'll come back, it's very early days yet and he needs to relax. He's done himself and his team no favours whatsoever by coming out and saying this though. He's just made them look bad in the press.

They're already booing Vettel (which is also unclassy) at some Grand Prix's, this just gives them even more reason to do so.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > TheCraigy
03/24/2014 at 17:47

The level to which he falls out with the FIA is the key thing here. If he falls out with them entirely he could send the WRC into free fall. From what I understand if he pulls out from backing WRC then that entire series suddenly becomes very flimsy indeed.

I'm not too sharp on rally though, the best guys to ask about that might be hanging around elsewhere here!

Jonathon Klein > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 17:50

Yep.

PS9 > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 17:56

Kinja'd!!!

Don't know if the powertrain changes have to do with setting consumption records, but I'm 100% certain they're all about trying to ensure we still have an F1 sport to argue about after we get deep into the yellow part of this curve.

pfftballer > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 18:03

Not really. Those teams have tradition. Redbull is a flash in the pan.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > pfftballer
03/24/2014 at 18:24

I was talking about Ferrari in this case.

joe hansen > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 19:30

I hope you guys realize the FIA did this to F1 and not Ecclestone however he is also part of the problem, don't get me wrong...

DCrants > Destructive Tester
03/24/2014 at 22:13

If you should be upset with anyone it should be directed at Christian Horner for choosing to disregard the FIA's warning.

Or his engine supplier Renault since the whole reason F1 has the new regulations he seems to be so mad about is because Renault was threatening to leave the sport unless F1 went in this direction.

Destructive Tester > DCrants
03/24/2014 at 22:55

That's a great point on Renault dropping the ball with this engine, but I can totally understand why Renault (especially) or any of the engine manufacturers would want to be able to use racing to develop marketable engine technology. What I can't do is feel much sympathy for anyone on the team who decided to disregard the direction of the FIA when it was already stated that there would be zero tolerance on fuel descrepancies. It's really no different than trying to say their car isn't underweight because their scales are more accurate than the FIA's. Anyone who's ever raced a pinewood derby car knows this...

majorbloodnok > Where have all the lightweights gone?
03/24/2014 at 23:03

Damn your fast fingers!

HellPhish89 > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/25/2014 at 03:19

"You have to make F1 like it used to be - the top discipline of motorsports, F1 is not there to set new records in fuel consumption, nor to make it possible to have a whispered conversation during a race. It is absurd to race a lap seconds slower than last year. GP2 partially provides more racing and fighting and almost equal lap times as F1 with a small fraction of the budget."

without context... this is correct.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/25/2014 at 03:59

To be honest, him leaving is a good thing - that means F1 would lose value and Old Man Bernie would soon be penniless.

Volksandmopar > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/25/2014 at 06:51

Don't they have a deal with F1 to stay in the sport till 2021 or something?