Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has dismissed suggestions that Mercedes or Audi could reconsider their Formula 1 commitments amid growing economic challenges.
With Europe’s automotive sector facing economic pressure, some had speculated whether major manufacturers might reassess their F1 involvement ahead of the sweeping regulatory changes coming in 2026.
However, Marko maintains that F1’s budget cap and booming global popularity have transformed it into a profitable venture, offering stability even amid broader market difficulties.
“The economic situation is currently incredibly difficult, but the budget cap means that a Formula 1 team has become a business case and is profitable,” Marko told Kleine Zeitung.
“Most teams are earning money and the sponsors are already coming from completely different sectors and no longer from the car industry.”
F1’s continued popularity boom
F1 introduced a budget cap in 2021 to limit the amounts that teams could spend, aiming to create a more sustainable and competitive environment for all involved.
According to Marko, the model implemented then has been an overwhelming success, with teams increasingly attractive investments rather than financial burdens.
The Austrian also pointed to the increasing diversity and size of the fanbase as proof of the sport’s healthy trajectory.
“Popularity is increasing and the proportion of women among the fans is also growing,” he added. “There are far more Grand Prix fans than free dates in the calendar.”
Marko hails impending Cadillac arrival
Mercedes will be targeting a return to the top under the 2026 rules, hoping to replicate the dominance it achieved with the introduction of the V6 turbo-hybrid engines in 2014.
Meanwhile, Audi will also venture into F1 for the first time as a full works team, taking over Sauber’s operations and branding in time for the revamped technical era.
Marko also touched on the imminent arrival of Cadillac into Formula 1, with the FIA also having approved General Motors as a new engine supplier from 2029.
He acknowledged the challenges of operating across different locations but welcomed the entrance of another major American brand to the championship.
“When one of the world’s largest car manufacturers comes into Formula 1 with such a traditional brand, you always benefit from it,” Marko concluded.
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