Mercedes Reportedly Offering “Double the Salary” to Stop Red Bull Exodus
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SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – NOVEMBER 14: James Allison, Technical Director at Mercedes GP talks with Mercedes GP Engineer Andrew Shovlin in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 14, 2019 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images)
The top brass at Mercedes must be sweating right now; for there is an engine revolution brimming at Red Bull right now. And it is happening at Mercedes’ expense as the Austrian outfit has been poaching senior engineers from their German rivals.
To combat this situation, the Silver Arrows are offering fat paychecks to their outgoing employees. This claim has been made by none other than Red Bull consultant, Dr. Helmut Marko.
He is as blunt as they come in F1; he refuses to bite his tongue. According to him, they have been luring the top-notch personnel from Mercedes, not using any financial bait, but through their passion.
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He said, “Red Bull is a passionate racing team. Everything in one house. Mercedes offers people who come to us double the salary if they stay. We don’t.” (Quotes translated from German using Google)
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NUERBURG, GERMANY – OCTOBER 11: Second placed Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing talks with Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner, Masashi Yamamoto of Honda and Red Bull Racing Team Consultant Dr Helmut Marko in parc ferme during the F1 Eifel Grand Prix at Nuerburgring in Nuerburg, Germany. (Photo by Dan Istitene – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
The fact of the matter is that their engine and chassis operations will be integrated at their headquarters in Milton Keynes. On the other hand, Mercedes have two separate bases – Brixworth for power units and Brackley for the bodywork.
Another selling point has been the fact that the outgoing Mercedes engineers don’t have to leave England to join Red Bull.
Christian Horner, Red Bull Team Principal, recently said, “We certainly benefit from the fact that our campus is in England, where we have access to a great deal of talent in engineering.
“All the executives announced bring a lot of experience and expertise and innovation for the Red Bull Powertrains program and offer us the best possible technical platform for the future.”
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Mercedes F1 Reportedly Panicking Amid Hodgkinson’s Switch to Red Bull
Red Bull engines to have the same status as a Mercedes engine
While they are taking over the engine IP from Honda, the power unit will carry their name. Hence, they will enjoy the same brand recognition as Mercedes in F1. That is if they don’t choose to collaborate with Audi or any other car manufacturer.
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According to Horner, “It will be a Red Bull engine. So it will be, as Mercedes is a Mercedes, it will be an incorporated part of the car. So it will be a Red Bull. I think we won’t be beholden on having a partner, so we’ve got the independence to do it ourselves.”
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It remains to be seen what other steps Toto Wolff & Co. will take in a bid to prevent their rivals from growing in stature, especially at their expense.
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