Marko has 'solution' to the engine problem, but "Mercedes will be against it"

Red Bull Racing seem to have fallen into a nasty hole with their 2022 engine situation. Honda are withdrawing from Formula 1 as an engine supplier. This means that the Austrian team will have to rely on two options: either purchase an engine from Mercedes, Ferrari or Renault, or they will have to develop a power source themselves. 

New manufacturers in F1

Rumours have it that Volkswagen are interested in taking part in Formula 1 and the name Toyota also pops up here and there. Helmut Marko, however, excludes cooperation with those parties on power sources, because it does not make sense for those manufacturers to get involved in sport now.

In conversation with Auto, Motor und Sport, Marko noted: "For a period of only four years until the next regulation, nobody wants to make any effort. Everyone knows that you can't just jump in and be directly competitive. Hybrid technology is far too complicated and costly for that."

Given that the power source regulation will change in 2026 with biofuel in mind, it would mean that a new manufacturer would have to focus on hybrid engines for a period of four years. As already pointed out by Marko, this technology is extremely expensive and complicated, making it simply not profitable for new entrants.

In that context, it is better for Volkswagen or Toyota, for example, to focus on 2026, where the investment they then make is more profitable in the longer term. A solution for Red Bull Racing in this case is for the FIA to bring forward the engine guidelines planned for 2026, which will allow new parties to enter more quickly.

Opposition from Mercedes

In this case it could be very beneficial for Red Bull Racing, which will also be discussed at the next World Council meeting of the FIA, but Marko expects opposition. "If a new set of engine regulations were to be preferred, that would certainly be best. But what interest would Mercedes have in changing anything?"

"They have an optimal engine and they can use their power advantage to drive fully with different wing settings. They will certainly be against it. Abiteboul probably doesn't know whether he is for or against and Ferrari would probably be done soon. In case of doubt there will be another vote against and with this idiotic unanimity there won't be much movement," Marko said.