Red Bull team owner 'serious' in threat to quit Formula One
Team chief Christian Horner warns Dietrich Mateschitz's patience is wearing thin over Renault engine failures and disillusionment with the sport
Team chief Christian Horner confirmed Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz is serious in suggesting he will pull out of Formula One if his disillusionment with the sport continues.
Mateschitz said earlier he felt demotivated by Renault's failures and the sport's declining level of interest and spectacle, an issue on which he gained support from Mercedes director and fellow Austrian Niki Lauda.
Dietrich doesn't talk publicly often, but when he does, you have to listen. He's expressing his opinions and views. He's most definitely frustrated at the moment
It got worse for Red Bull on Saturday when team driver Daniil Kvyat was handed a 10-place grid penalty for the team's home Austrian Grand Prix for taking on a fifth engine.
The Russian driver is on his fifth Renault power unit, the same as teammate Daniel Ricciardo of Australia - who received his on Friday. Teams are allowed only four per driver for the season before incurring penalties.
Meanwhile, championship leader Lewis Hamilton will start Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix from pole position after edging Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg in qualifying.
The defending champion left it late to clock a best lap of one minute, 8.455 seconds to beat Rosberg's leading mark by 0.20. Hamilton's 45th career pole put him in all-time equal third place alongside four-time champion Sebastian Vettel, who was third fastest for Ferrari.
Red Bull's Horner said: "Dietrich doesn't talk publicly often, but when he does, you have to listen. He's expressing his opinions and views. He's most definitely frustrated at the moment."