Red Bull threatens to pull out of F1 over sport's 'unlevel playing field' post Australian GP fiasco

Following a disappointing opening race in Australia, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has warned that the team could pull out of Formula One over the sport's rules and organization.

Marko said that the Austrian team was unhappy with the current situation, as team principal Christian Horner called for new regulations to level the playing field.

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg tore away to a one-two finish in Melbourne, with the Briton 30 seconds ahead of his German teammate and rival, in an ominous sign for the other teams, News.com.au reported.

Red Bull's Daniil Kvyat suffered a gearbox problem on his way to the starting grid and Daniel Ricciardo was sixth out of just 11 cars to finish.

Red Bull, which dominated Formula one between 2010 and 2013, continued with its struggles that prompted a dark warning from Marko. He said that they are unhappy with the way Formula One is regulated and run, adding that they would therefore also be thinking about an exit scenario if the cost-benefit analysis no longer adds up.

Marko pointed out that Red Bull, owned by Austrian energy-drink billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, would evaluate their position later in the year.

Despite Red Bull's years on top, Horner said that it wasn't healthy to have one team dominant and he called for Formula One to rein in Mercedes and their superior engine. He said that on this evidence, they are set for a two-horse race at every Grand Prix, questioning if it is healthy to have a situation like this.

Horner claimed that the FIA, within the rules, have an equalisation mechanism and that needs to be looked at, adding that Red Bull had to weather several rules-changes during its time at the top, including bans on double-diffusers and flexible bodywork.