Ecclestone Welcomes Volkswagen Interest in Formula One
Bernie Ecclestone says Volkswagen joining F1 would be positive, as speculation grows over a possible Audi entry and Red Bull’s future with its current engine supplier.
Bernie Ecclestone has said Volkswagen’s entry into Formula One would be “great”, as the group’s possible involvement continues to attract attention in the paddock. The comment comes during a period of uncertainty for Red Bull, which has been openly frustrated with its current Renault power units.
Speculation around Audi, a Volkswagen Group brand, intensified after the departure of former VW chairman Ferdinand Piech, who was known for his opposition to both Formula One and Ecclestone himself. Audi chairman Rupert Stadler has since confirmed the company is “looking at” a potential foray into F1. The presence of former Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali at Audi has only added to the sense that the group is seriously evaluating its options.
Red Bull’s engine dilemma and the Volkswagen link
Red Bull’s relationship with Renault has soured after a series of reliability and performance issues with the French manufacturer’s hybrid power units. The team’s owner, Dietrich Mateschitz, is reported to be pushing hard for a solution, fuelling talk that Volkswagen could become a future engine supplier or even take a stake in the team. Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo and ex-F1 driver Gerhard Berger have both suggested such a move is being considered.
Ecclestone, speaking to the Austrian news agency APA, said he would welcome Volkswagen’s involvement but would not be drawn on whether a full or partial sale of Red Bull to the German group was likely. He did say he wanted Red Bull to stay in the sport, despite the current difficulties.
Ticket sales and the Austrian Grand Prix
Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko recently revealed that ticket sales for the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring were down compared to 2014, attributing the drop in part to the ongoing rules crisis and the team’s lacklustre performance. Ecclestone responded that such a trend is normal in the second year of a revived event, suggesting the novelty of the first year had simply worn off.
While Volkswagen has yet to make a formal commitment, the removal of internal opposition and growing public interest from Audi’s leadership have made the group’s entry into Formula One a real possibility. For Red Bull, a new technical partner could be crucial to its future in the sport.
For more on Ecclestone’s views about the future of teams in F1, seeEcclestone says struggling F1 teams' collapse would not worry him.
