Formula 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone Tries To Keep Red Bull In Ring

Mateschitz And Ecclestone

The race to stop Red Bull walking out of F1 "has turned into a cul-de-sac," as rival factions line up to deny it the chance to compete, according to Kevin Eason of the LONDON TIMES.

F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone spent the weekend of the U.S. Grand Prix "trying to stitch together a deal" that will prevent Red Bull Owner Dietrich Mateschitz from pulling the plug on his team and the Toro Rosso junior squad. Mateschitz "is on the brink unless he can find competitive engines for both teams for next season."

Renault, Red Bull’s engine supplier through four world championship-winning seasons, "has walked away and may yet leave the sport, while Mercedes and Ferrari have refused to come up with a deal for competitive machinery." Red Bull "will need an engine within the next few weeks simply to have a car ready for next season."

Ecclestone: "They will be in trouble whatever engine they get because of the timing. The reasons why Ferrari or Mercedes don’t want to give Red Bull the same engine as they will race in 2016 is because they are afraid they might get beaten, which is ridiculous." The decision on Red Bull "is critical for F1."

Losing such a high-profile name "would be a commercial disaster for the sport, underlining its travails over the past two years that have led to the threat of an inquiry by the European Union competition commission." LONDON TIMES