'Racing purists' Red Bull have no interest in Formula E

Red Bull chief Helmut Marko has insisted that the team currently has no plans to expand their motorsport operations into the all-electric Formula E series, because he sees himself and the team as "racing purists" who prefer the more traditional Formula 1.

Formula E has grown in popularity steadily over the past few years, with the likes of Jaguar, Audi, and Nissan opting to ply their trade within that rather than F1.

F1 remains, in terms of popularity, a juggernaut compared to Formula E, and Marko has provided cynical reasoning for Red Bull's lack of motivation to cross over in disciplines.

"As good as we are in marketing, Formula E is for us only a marketing excuse from the automotive industry to distract from the diesel scandal," he told Motorsport.com.

"The bottom line is that diesel is by far the most efficient engine. In the beginning, the costs were eight million. Now it's well over 20. If the really big ones like Porsche and Mercedes come, it will go up again.

"The Formula E cars are like a Formula 3 car with a 400kg battery.

"It is not about being the fastest driver as it involves a lot more energy management than in Formula 1 or in any other racing series."

The Red Bull chief went on to say that Formula E does have one major attraction - the fact they stage races in cities rather than in more traditional race tracks.

"They are so slow. It only looks attractive on these tight and twisty city circuits. The huge advantage is that the Formula E is a super marketing gag, in the middle of the cities," Marko continued.

"Ask your girlfriend if she wants to go to Spa or rather to New York! That's the basic concept of Formula E, to go to the people.

"But there is hardly any public image generated through TV. Only one can win. And when the budgets then go towards 40, 50 million, at least one [manufacturer] will only be fifth or sixth.

"[When that happens] I believe that the euphoria will be gone quickly."

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