HM: Yes, it was last year, it was this year, and we couldn’t see that they would be up there with Mercedes or Ferrari next year.

Helmut Marko: Renault couldn’t provide us with an engine that enabled us to run at the front. It’s that simple. Q: Your 2014 season was tough, things have got little better this year, and you had the impression that 2016 would also see no real improvement… that is what drove the decision?

Q: Helmut, the cooperation between Red Bull and Renault is seemingly over. After eight championship titles together, it cannot have been easy to throw in the towel. Can you explain the reasoning?

Q: So your belief that their development has stalled was the decisive factor?

HM: Yes. Never forget, we are customers - we pay for the product and nobody likes to spend money on an inferior product. So it was time to make a decision.

Q: Red Bull wanted an engine deal with Mercedes, but that is not going to happen. Why? Was there a fear at Mercedes of too much competition?

HM: You better ask Toto Wolff. He is the one to know.



Q: We did - and the simple answer was that the engine is the decisive factor in F1 racing right now and that they have worked very hard to achieve their success, hence they opted against supplying Red Bull but want to continue their model of supporting independent, privateer racing teams [you can read what Wolff had to say in full here]…

HM: Yep, straightforward.



Q: Is that what they told you?



HM: Yes - and I guess it is the truth.



Q: So next year it looks like you will be racing with a Ferrari power train…

HM: It is not fixed yet, but yes, we did have a conversation with [FIAT CEO] Mr Marchionne in Monza.



Q: But if it is not a Ferrari engine, what else could it be? The Mercedes avenue is closed and Honda is probably not an option right now…

HM: There is an option to stop F1.



Q: Is that scenario really on the table?

HM: Yes, that is a scenario. If we don’t have an engine that allows us to compete at the very front we will prefer to stop.



Q: Is that something that the F1 community is aware of? It would involve two teams…

HM: It is known - but I think not everybody recognises what impact it would have.



Q: As an engine customer, do you believe you would get the same A-spec engine as the works team?

HM: If it were a few horsepower less we would not be concerned. But in the end you can check that very easily with the GPS data and other parameters to see what you really get. The truth is that the engine - the hardware - is not the real issue. That is the software and the same fuel.



Q: So being a customer of another team is not a bad thing per se?

HM: No. We have won eight titles as a customer of Renault.



Q: A new power train for 2016 - what does that mean for a car that was designed around the Renault engine, especially given that soon you will have to start working on the 2017 changes?

HM: That wouldn’t be a problem. We have good people and we have good facilities.



Q: Is it a cost matter?

HM: Also no, as we have to build a new chassis anyway.