GreenBkk.com Formula 1 | Long-term success will ensure Red Bull stays in F1- Marko

Long-term success will ensure Red Bull stays in F1- Marko

ESPNF1 Staff
December 1, 2011

Helmut Marko is an advisor to Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz © Getty Images

Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko insists his team's parent company is committed to Formula One as long as it continues to be successful on the track.

Although there have been no indications it will leave the sport anytime soon, Red Bull openly admits that F1 is a marketing tool and it does not have the historic commitment to the sport that the likes of Ferrari, McLaren and Williams have. But Marko insists that as long as the investment has a positive return the team will remain in the sport.

"There have been comments from [team owner] Dietrich Mateschitz that should the framework requirements not apply, then there could be second thoughts," Marko said. "Formula One is a marketing tool for Red Bull, which means that we permanently evaluate our input and the output of our commitment. This equation has to be positive. If long-term success is there, then there is definitely no question at all. And if you look at the reality of the situation, we have long-term contracts with our engine supplier, with our sponsors and our staff."

With back-to-back championships against its name, Red Bull does not look likely to leave anytime soon. Asked what the secret to Red Bull's success was, Marko said: "I would say that the magic word is probably continuity, on the top decision-making level, but also immediately below that too. We haven't seen a change over the last three years. And when there have been changes then it's within the team. People are moved from one department to another when they display corresponding talents, but it all stays 'in the family'! To know that one's talent will be recognised and to be given the opportunity to grow makes this harmony which translates into success."

He added that all of Red Bull's updates to the car this year were a success and that most of the rivals ended up copying the RB7 by the end of the season.

"Looking at the upgrades that we added over the season, they all delivered," Marko said. "We never had to face the awkwardness of building back. Looking at all the other cars over the course of the season, they all gradually became lookalikes of the RB7… they're just painted differently! The longer the season lasted, the more RB7s there were on the grid."

Credit: ESPN F1 (en.espnf1.com)