Pirelli questions F1 future if Red Bull quits

Paul Hembery admits Pirelli’s future in Formula One could be in doubt if Dietrich Mateschitz does decide to pull the plug on Red Bull and Toro Rosso.

After serving current partner Renault with termination papers, the energy drinks giant is now facing a “critical situation”, having failed to secure a replacement deal so far.

In the wake of two challenging seasons in the new 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged era, Red Bull has become increasingly frustrated at the sport and repeatedly threatened to walk away if it fails to secure a competitive engine.

Earlier this month, Pirelli also said it would leave F1 if it is not granted sufficient testing time ahead of 2017 and the introduction of revamped technical regulations. Now, Hembery reveals that the potential demise of Red Bull and Toro Rosso will also factor in the Italian company’s decision to extend its involvement in the sport.

“It would make us think very heavily, yes”, the Pirelli motorsport director is quoted as saying by Autosport.

“To lose two high quality, well-funded, professional teams, and I can't imagine there would be immediate replacements, even though we have Haas entering next year, then you are going to be worried.

“I know people say teams come and go, but we are talking about a very serious investment made over a significant number of years by Red Bull, and from our point of view, it would weaken the sport dramatically.

“For us, they are two very important teams.”

Pirelli, which is currently competing with Michelin to remain F1's sole tyre supplier beyond 2016, also hails Red Bull’s policy of nurturing young racers and willingness to spur interest in the sport off track.

“We admire what they've done for the sport in terms of driver development; they work at grassroots, bringing drivers through to Formula One, from Sebastian Vettel to the four talents they have this year.

“They're also a team that goes outside of the F1 circus to promote the sport, they invest significant sums of money in going to new locations, taking F1 to the streets of cities that don't stage F1 to try and create interest.

“So from our point of view, as a sponsor, any risk of losing both those teams would be a significant disaster for Formula One.”

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