Horner: I'm doing all I can to save Red Bull

The energy drinks giant this week made it clear that unless it can secure performance parity guarantees with Ferrari's works team next year it will close down its two F1 outfits.

Horner said he was doing all he could to try to deliver a situation that would appease Mateschitz's suggestions of it walking away if it cannot get a competitive power unit.

“Dietrich Mateschitz doesn't talk very often, but when he does you have to sit up and take notice,” explained Horner.

“He is somewhat disillusioned with F1 at the moment and has been very consistent in that statement. And it is my job to try to find a solution.

“We have a big commitment to F1, a big workforce, a very talented team, and I am doing my best to try to ensure we find a competitive engine to power the team next year.

“But of course if that is not the case there is a risk because Red Bull Racing's position is different to teams like McLaren, Williams or Ferrari.

“F1 has to prove a marketing return globally and to do that you need to be not restricted in terms of the tools at your disposal.”

Change of circumstances

Although Red Bull has made a commitment with Bernie Ecclestone to compete in F1 until 2020, Horner said that quitting was possible now because the sport was not delivering the benefits to the team that it had in the past.

“As Bernie Ecclestone often says, circumstances change – and the circumstances now are very different compared to when we entered in to that agreement.

“Our intention is to find a solution. There is an awful lot of work going on in the background to find a solution. Some of it is out of our hands, but every effort is going on to ensure Red Bull Racing will be here until 2020 and hopefully beyond. But there are some big questions that need answering.”

Renault decision imminent

Red Bull has not yet officially confirmed it will be splitting with Renault, but Horner said that negotiations about its relationship with the French car manufacturer were ongoing.

“There are some positive discussions going on behind the scenes with Renault,” he said. “Red Bull's position and Renault's position is fairly clear with what we want to achieve, and hopefully that should be concluded in the coming days.

“As far as anything else [is concerned], it is purely speculative. But we are having various different conversations.”