Ahead of the FIA presidential election, Helmut Marko has warned that unless the successful candidate gets to grips with simplifying F1's rules Red Bull could walk away from the sport.

Of course, those fans that were following the sport before the arrival of Netflix, will be aware that this is a threat we have grown used to, and tired of.

Indeed, upping sticks and quitting as owner of two teams is hard enough, but when you also own a powertrain division things are a little less clear cut.

Anyway, at the end of a season which has seen much questioning of the rules, how they are interpreted and applied, Marko is calling for change and as the FIA prepares to elect a new president he calls on the successful candidate to get to grips with the issue.

"We will think about our future in Formula 1 if it does not have the desired effects on future championships," warned the Austrian, according to F1i.

"Decisions have to be quick and unambiguous," he continued. "It has to be a matter of seconds and these decisions should not be different every time.

"They need to be simplified," he insisted. "It cannot be that the rules are interpreted differently every time. The starting point must be to let them race.

"It is not our job, but after so many mistakes have been made and unworthy decisions have been taken, there is certainly a great need for change. There will be a new FIA President, he should start working on this immediately."

In terms of decisions, as Mercedes ponders whether to formally appeal the Abu Dhabi stewards ruling, Marko accused the German team of being "sore losers".

"What happened is unworthy of a world title race," he said. "It says a lot about their mentality.

"I think they are sore losers," he continued. "That's their attitude, it's been like that all season.

"We don't care," he insisted, “we are the moral winners, whether it comes left or right."

This from a man threatening to throw the toys from the pram for the umpteenth time.

Check out our Tuesday gallery from Yas Marina, here.

LATEST NEWS

more news >

LATEST IMAGES

galleries >

Click to go to the main galleries section

READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 17/12/2021 12:10

"@ Ed. Maybe I have some crossed wires here. Just what, in your eyes, constitutes a 'European' and where does Europe terminate? It can be quite confusing but I take your comments as read."

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

2. Posted by Editor, 17/12/2021 7:05

"@ Kenji,

Please do show me where I describe the UK as "being European".

I wrote the UK is "part of Europe" in that it is geographically IN Europe, which is wholly different to what you claim."

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

3. Posted by kenji, 17/12/2021 5:00

"@ ED. Interesting that you consider England as being European. Geographically maybe, but ethnically [ questionable ] and politically not. I see the situation much like us here in Australia. We are ethnically and politically different to our geographically determined Asian status. The differences are substantial by comparison though. We are the odd ones out."

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

4. Posted by kenji, 17/12/2021 1:37

"@GWS....Maybe I'm wrong here but I feel a guilty twinge or two? hahaha but only 50/50 on some points. "

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

5. Posted by Great_white_shark, 16/12/2021 1:24

"@editor I would like to know the answer to your riddle. Apparently none of us can work it out "

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

6. Posted by ClarkwasGod, 15/12/2021 15:46

"Go - sell up to Andretti"

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

7. Posted by Superbird70, 15/12/2021 14:50

"Alan Stanley Jones, MBE"

Rating: Positive (2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

8. Posted by Mad Matt, 15/12/2021 14:15

"Mark Webber?
kenji? :-)"

Rating: Positive (2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

9. Posted by Editor, 15/12/2021 12:33

"@ Superbird70

You are making the mistake of conflating Europe with the European Union.

Though no longer part of the European Union, the UK is still a part of Europe.

But in the eyes of some that is still bad"

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

10. Posted by Superbird70, 15/12/2021 11:12

"@Editor-Lewis Hamilton (UK- post Brexit) Bad"

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

11. Posted by Cobra Driver, 15/12/2021 9:32

"As they say in the West, "all hat and no cattle"."

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

12. Posted by Editor, 15/12/2021 8:41

"A Christmas Game

Who am I?

Mercedes (Europe) Bad

McLaren (originally New Zealand) Good

Lewis Hamilton (Europe) Bad

Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Good

Toto Wolff (Europe) Bad)

Michael Masi (Australia) Good"

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

13. Posted by equator180, 15/12/2021 2:02

"So, some of the grapes have not sweetened yet. Dealing with personalities is a no-win situation, look what Bernie built but still had his gallery of haters no matter what he did. Helmet may not be the friendly neighbour next door and threats are never a good way forward (although the US has been really good at it) but his point on revamping with consistency bears a lot of weight. Simple, consistent rules and the application of them is a good thing, who can argue with that.."

Rating: Positive (2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

14. Posted by Editor, 14/12/2021 19:27

"@ Mad Matt

You go girl!"

Rating: Positive (2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

15. Posted by Mad Matt, 14/12/2021 19:22

"Go on now, go. Walk out the door
Just turn around now 'cause you're not welcome anymore
Weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye?
Did you think I'd crumble?
Did you think I'd lay down and die?

OK, a bit OTT and as Bill says I actually agree with some of his points and if this was the first, or even fifth time Red Bull had made a threat like this...."

Rating: Positive (6) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

Marko calls for "quick and unambiguous" decisions... or else

LATEST NEWS

RELATED ARTICLES

LATEST IMAGES

POST A COMMENT

Post your comment

READERS COMMENTS

Share this page