Berger says Red Bull Ring aim is not F1

May 17 (GMM) The Red Bull Ring is ready for Formula 1 but Gerhard Berger doubts its owner is pushing for the return of the Austrian Grand Prix.

Some years ago, the ten-time grand prix winner co-owned Toro Rosso with countryman and billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, who at a nine-digit multi million Euro cost has rebuilt the former A1-Ring in picturesque Styria.

Mateschitz has played down the prospect of bidding for F1 but has achieved Formula 1 standard homologation for the track, with Bernie Ecclestone admitting Austria’s return to the Formula 1 calendar is “possible” as he attended the circuit relaunch at the weekend.

“The track is completely formula one-capable, there’s no doubt about that,” Berger told the Austrian broadcaster ORF. “And if you know Didi Mateschitz and Red Bull, they always do the maximum.

“On the other hand, I don’t think that (Formula 1) is the idea behind it,” he continued.

“The circuit has not been revitalised to bring a formula one race here, but simply to give a life back to Austrian motor racing. That’s why it has happened in the first place.

“What comes next, we’ll see,” added Berger.