Helmut Marko says it is "premature" to start celebrating the partnership between Red Bull and Porsche in Formula 1 for 2026 and beyond. Leaked company documents this week showed that Volkswagen-owned Porsche is buying half of the energy drink company's top F1 team.
Helmut Marko says it is "premature" to start celebrating the partnership between Red Bull and Porsche in Formula 1 for 2026 and beyond. Leaked company documents this week showed that Volkswagen-owned Porsche is buying half of the top F1 team from the energy drink company.
"I cannot accept congratulations yet," Marko, Red Bull's principal director, told Kleine Zeitung newspaper. "Those reports are premature."
In an official statement, however, Red Bull confirmed that "discussions" are ongoing with Porsche. "We have had talks," Marko added, "but nothing has been decided yet.
"The VW Group has decided that it will enter Formula 1 if the new engine regulations are enacted and contain several aspects. It's about the cost cap, newcomer status, CO2-free fuel and a few other points besides," he continued.
Fascinatingly, Marko hinted that the delay in the FIA finalizing the new engine regulations for 2026 is related to rivals Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes.
"We cannot confirm anything at the moment," the 79-year-old former Austrian F1 driver said. "Everything with the regulations has to be watertight, because it will be a huge change. There are also objections from Ferrari and Mercedes, who want to keep their advantage."
Also extremely likely for 2026 is the entry into Formula 1 of a second VW brand - Audi. The German automaker is expected to buy the Swiss F1 team Sauber. Sauber currently competes in F1 as Alfa Romeo, but that deal would obviously end when rival Audi is the working partner.
For 2023, however, Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato confirmed that the naming agreement will continue at least for now. "We have signed the renewal with Sauber for 2023″, he told Il Sole 24 Ore's Radiocor.
"Every year we take stock in July to decide whether we continue with this commitment. If one day we realize that we have no more interest or no return on investment, we will evaluate. Everything will be done in an orderly way, but it's not an issue for this year," he concluded.