Bernie Ecclestone sure Red Bull won't quit Formula 1

Several senior figures at the multiple championship-winning team, including its billionaire owner Dietrich Mateschitz, have hinted this season that Red Bull could withdraw from F1 on the back of the poor performance of its engine supplier Renault.

Ecclestone, however, told the media at the Austrian Grand Prix on Saturday he is not expecting Red Bull to leave.

When asked if he thinks Red Bull will pull out, Ecclestone said: "I don't think so. I know Mr Mateschitz very well.

"There'd be more chance of him pulling out if he was winning than when he was losing.

"They're disappointed, aren't they? What they are saying is 'it's not our fault that our performance is what it is'.

"They've been used to winning with Renault and now...

"[Mateschitz] is a bit frustrated. He's spent a lot of money, does a good job and has been fantastic for Formula 1.

"He's been in Formula 1 longer than people realise and he's always supported it.

"Actually I think he's a reasonably intelligent guy, he knows what he says and what the effects are."

Ecclestone also dismissed claims F1 is any worse off at the moment than it has been in the past, claiming there are always people saying negative things.

"I think probably in the end there's nothing more wrong than there's ever been," he said.

"There's some people with a lot of money, some people without a lot of money. It's always been like that.

"There's always people complaining about something. The winners never complain - the losers complain.

"All I've ever said is that it's a pity that one team at the moment is dominating.

"I don't think Mercedes are getting criticised for winning, I think people are saying it's a pity, that's all.

"The problem is not the people who are winning, it's the people who are not competing with them."