Whatever happens on Sunday afternoon, at least we should get some excitement on Friday when Honda's Yasuhisa Arai, Ferrari's Luigi Fraboni, Christian Horner, Paddy Lowe and Jonathan Neale attend the official press conference. All that's missing is a representative from Renault.

One topic that is almost certain to be on the agenda, at the press conference and in the various motorhomes - including Bernie's - is Red Bull's threat to walk away from F1.

Just in case anyone hasn't been listening, talking to the official F1 website, Helmut Marko has reiterated the threat, if Ferrari doesn't supply Red Bull and Toro Rosso with virtually the same spec engines as its works cars, the grid loses two teams after Abu Dhabi.

First off, explaining the situation with Renault, Marko said: "Renault couldn’t provide us with an engine that enabled us to run at the front. It’s that simple. It was last year, it was this year, and we couldn’t see that they would be up there with Mercedes or Ferrari next year.

"Never forget, we are customers," he adds," we pay for the product and nobody likes to spend money on an inferior product. So it was time to make a decision."

Asked why Mercedes was not prepared to step in and supply engines, Marko's response is brief and to the point: "You better ask Toto Wolff. He is the one to know."

To ensure, everyone gets the message loud and clear, he adds: "If we don’t have an engine that allows us to compete at the very front we will prefer to stop."

So what of Ferrari?

"It is not fixed yet," he admits, "but yes, we did have a conversation with Mr Marchionne in Monza."

Asked about the claims that Red Bull demands total parity with the works Ferrari engines, he replies: "If it were a few horsepower less we would not be concerned. But in the end you can check that very easily with the GPS data and other parameters to see what you really get. The truth is that the engine - the hardware - is not the real issue. That is the software and the same fuel."

Asked about Volkswagen, Marko neatly avoids the emission choked elephant in the room. "I don’t think that they have a ready engine concept in their drawers," he says. "Yes, the rumours are there - and, of course, it would be great if another engine manufacturer would join. But right now that is all crystal ball reading.

"I only can look at next year," he concludes. "If we don’t have a competitive engine there is no future in F1 for Red Bull Racing. The curtain may go down after Abu Dhabi. That is Mr Mateschitz’ opinion. He knows that it costs the same amount of money to race at the front or, like we are now doing, in the ‘premium midfield’ - and he is not willing to do that for another season."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by wmcot54, 29/09/2015 3:24

"When Red Bull leaves F1, someone will write their story. I would like to suggest the title, "Red Bull F1: From Winning to Whining.""

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2. Posted by scf1fan, 28/09/2015 20:25

"@CB120 - I didn't want to see Tyrrell go, or the real Lotus either . . . We could all name a lot of teams that have come and gone which helped to make the sport enjoyable in one way or another. I also don't think that any of us really want to see RB leave, but on the other hand (and I asked about having a third option on the PP opinion poll . . . "RB should shut up and work harder!") a lot of us are frustrated with RBs attitude. Let me be clear on this, to the extent we can know, RBs situation is the result of RBs decisions! No one else's. So why do they moan and threaten? What can F1 give them that will solve the problems that RB themselves have created?

When Williams was struggling a few years ago, we didn't hear them threatening to leave to everyone who would give them press. Even McLaren, who is suffering way more than the RBs this season isn't belly aching at all compared to Mateschitz and Marko. No one want's to lose money, they are still getting "marketing" for their money. (Just not the kind they use to get, and in part, that is directly due to their current attitude!)

RB wants their own "first class PU" . . . ? Let them go make one, they have the money to partner up with someone as McLaren did with Honda. (Again, I'll throw out the Cosworth name for consideration.) If RB were really interested in the sport, that would be what they would do! MB, Ferrari owe RB nothing; they have customers that they are already committed to. Now, at the last minute, RB tries to bully their way past their self inflicted problems. Even if Ferrari or MB were to give in and supply engines, the RB chassis would have to be reworked to fit; so the thought that that is the "easy" solution is not necessarily the case.

To be honest, personally, I feel that RBs current theatrics dishonors the sport more than anything I've seen since "Crashgate." So, although I would rather that they shut up and work harder to solve their problems; (it's called sportsmanship!) if they aren't willing to do that, then I would rather they go."

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3. Posted by CB120, 25/09/2015 13:27

"Do people really want Red Bull and Toro Rosso to leave F1? This year there are 11 F1 teams, well really 10 since Manor is, unfortunately, irrelevant. Next year Team Hass will arrive but, realistically, it will take them a while to be competitive. Do you really want to see a top tier team (Red Bull) and a very good middle tier team, (Toro Rosso) out of the mix? F1 would be very much the worse for wear. Red Bull owner, Mr. Mateschitz, is very different from other team leaders. The leaders of other teams, are for the most part motor racing people. Motor sport is their life and they are willing to make sacrifices for the sport. Mr. Mateschitz is a businessman. He doesn't like losing money. He is not willing to make sacrifices. F1 is not the only facet of his life. Life will go on for him, in or out of F1. He knows when he has the upper hand and is willing to use it. He knows that F1 cannot afford to lose two high quality teams at this stage in their history and he's pushing this advantage. In a multi-million dollar environment that is what most if not all businessmen, who were not part of the motor sport industry, would do. With VW, seemingly out of the mix F1 has a problem"

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4. Posted by SideGlance, 25/09/2015 9:01

"Peter Rickitt, you know it would be very difficult to build your own engine - Honda should be reason enuf to not even think about it - no, an engine design and build program would need to be started several years before you needed it, but a start up would need even more time - not feasible in the least, Mercedes has spent untold millions on their engines and likely at least 4 yrs already.

And of course VW will NOT be entering F1, their 'cheating' is not limited to the US diesels but to over 11 million diesels have the same f/w, 10 million in EU, but whether 'active' in EU is not known - yet !!

But $Billions it will cost in US, and then the loss of car sells also. But then only about 500,000 diesels in US sold.

And will it effect Mercedes? Did they 'cheat', no evidence yet."

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5. Posted by Peter Rickitt, 24/09/2015 15:20

"The Mateschitz/Marko double act insist on a 'business' relationship with their supplier of engines, but are clearly miffed with Mercedes refusal to deal with them and Ferrari's ambivalence - what business would supply a major competitor with their latest technology ? And VW is now unlikely to ride to their rescue.
If they want to 'play with the big boys', they should build their own engine - there is enough technological resource out there to help them (Cosworth,Ricardo,Tesla to name but a few) and they have had two years of notice that they were in trouble in which to plan: their own 'business' prescience is to blame.
Is it not just an elaborate charade to justify quitting ? Because they are losing and do not have the moral fibre to stand by their historically winning partner.
So quit, Mateschitz - like your drink, your short-term boost will soon wither away and your effect on F1 in the long-term become flat.
"

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6. Posted by CrisBD, 24/09/2015 7:09

"You say: "Helmut Marko has reiterated the threat, if Ferrari doesn't supply Red Bull and Toro Rosso with virtually the same spec engines as its works cars"

But do you mean Ferrari? This doesn't make sense since Ferrari don't supply engines to Red Bull. You've got this sentence on the main page as well..."

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7. Posted by wmcot54, 24/09/2015 4:03

"Just ignore Marko. He's a bit jittery and irritable from drinking too many Red Bulls."

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8. Posted by f1fan, 24/09/2015 2:56

"Marko, Horner, your whining is by now boring, a nuisance and a pain in the b..t. Just quit formula 1 and good riddance. You're a poor looser!!"

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9. Posted by Yeyox02, 23/09/2015 21:59

"RB has a very bad reputation as a partner and they believe that Formula 1 will disappear or will suffer if they quit the business and I think it is quite the opposite."

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10. Posted by sumpnz, 23/09/2015 21:51

"Williams has 9 constructors championships and 7 drivers championships. McLaren has 8 constructors and 12 drivers championships. Red Bull has 4 of each. I don't see Williams constantly whining and threatening to quit F1, even when just a couple years ago they were ahead of only Marussia and Caterham. McLaren is suffering what can only be charitably described as a horrible season and mostly because of Honda's problems. I saw neither Williams nor McLaren whining and threatening to quit the sport. They put their heads down and got on with it. Red Bull needs to either do that, or just be gone.

Can't say I blame Mercedes for turning them down. Issues with helping the "competition" probably had little to do with it. I wouldn't want to work with Red Bull either knowing that as soon as things get a little off from total domination that they'll blame and whine nonstop. I'm frankly surprised Ferrari is willing to take that risk."

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11. Posted by Village Idiot, 23/09/2015 21:40

"Arrogance. We want the best engine or we will pack up and go home. After Singapore and the Red Bull result I searched everywhere to find where someone from Red Bull gave any credit to renault for the weekends result. I found nothing except their comments about wanting a top level engine program for next year. Why would Ferrari or Mercedes want to work with Red Bull after their public treatment of Renault. Ferrari dodnt threaten to quit. They rolled up their sleeves and went to work. Just like McClaren Honda continues to do. I wont miss the whining."

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12. Posted by Jonno, 23/09/2015 17:00

"Careful Mr Marko, you don't want the door to slap you on the back as you leave.

Red Bull have done very well out of F1, if they can't learn some humility, they're better out than in. Ferrari and Mercedes have both spent a fortune making their engines and deserve all the success they receive from the time, money and effort they've put into getting there. Why should they give away all their work to this Johny-come-lately team who've never offered the slightest help to any other team. Will Red Bull pass on the 'secrets' of their chassis to Ferrari? No chance.
Their utter contempt for Renault isn't going to endear them to any engine suppliers. They have reaped exactly what they have sowed, 'cos they have a dog's chance of seeing VW in F1 for many years following this week's revelations.
"

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13. Posted by Tweek, 23/09/2015 16:38

"lol nnails a 14 car grid and Mr. E is gonna have some explaining to do with all his Track owners, not to mention all the TV broadcasters globally. 7 teams and empty stands do not a good show make. Ohh yea.... Hey Marko, go back and re watch this years broadcasts ....now tell me.... How many Ferrari customer cars have pulled off racing passes on track on the works team this year?"

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14. Posted by klmn, 23/09/2015 13:50

"
-YAWN - ZZzzzzzzz"

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15. Posted by nnails, 23/09/2015 12:54

"To be quite honest as well trully fed up f1 fan , two red bulls team leaving , lotus going slowly bust and manor and sauber in not best financial situation a few teams closing and a grid of 14 cars or so could be best think to happen in f1 for a while. It may make the people in charge get there act togeather before f1 is dead."

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The curtain may go down after Abu Dhabi, warns Marko

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