Red Bull’s Dietrich Mateschitz renews Formular 1 quit threat

Dietrich Mateschitz‘s thoughts about quitting Formula 1 are apparently still alive.

Last year, amid the arguments with Renault and dissatisfaction about the direction of the sport, the Red Bull mogul and billionaire reportedly thought seriously about pulling his two teams out of F1.

Ultimately, Red Bull is still in the paddock, but Toro Rosso’s engine is a year old and the premier outfit is still with Renault – on a one-year deal.

“The contract with Renault allows different options,” Mateschitz told the Red Bull-owned publication Speed Week.

He said that the highest goal Red Bull Racing can aspire to this year is third, behind the “works” outfits Mercedes and Ferrari.

However, the 71-year-old added: “We are too good to be domestiques.

“And Formula 1 is not the Tour de France. If we do not have a competitive engine, we will leave. We will certainly not accept fifth place for the next five years.”

Meanwhile, he made clear that he does not blame Bernie Ecclestone for the situation, saying that the F1 supremo’s controversial recent criticism of the sport is “right”.