Red Bull boss Helmut Marko has revealed that Mercedes has been trying its best to delay Ben Hodgkinson’s move to the Austrian outfit. Hodgkinson will be joining Red Bull as their technical director for its Formula 1 engine division.
Red Bull Powertrains, where the work on their engine will take place, is currently being set up at Milton Keynes.
Along with an allocated building for the work on their campus, Red Bull is also looking to hire dedicated staff for the project. Hodgkinson is currently on gardening leave imposed by Mercedes.
However, Marko seems to think that Mercedes is using all its resources to try and delay the start of the Brit’s tenure with Red Bull.
“The decisive thing is, we didn’t have to persuade him at all,” Marko told F1-Insider.
“Ben applied independently through our advertisement.
“Mercedes is now trying everything they legally can do to delay the start of his work. But it won’t take as long as Mercedes would like.”
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner had only last week announced that there will be hiring for prominent positions. This was confirmed by Marko.
“He is not the only one who wants to join us,” Marko added. “There are also other high-profile figures, whose names I cannot yet give.”
Marko even took a jibe at Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff for his inability to prevent an exodus from Brixworth.
“I know only one thing,” added Marko. “If Niki Lauda were still alive, we would not have been able to do this.”
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