Bernie Ecclestone believes "things need to come together quickly" to keep Red Bull in Formula One after the team's recent threats about quitting the sport.
Red Bull is currently without an engine supplier for 2016 after cutting ties with Renault, the company it dominated the sport with between 2010 and 2013. Though talks are ongoing with Ferrari about a supply deal for next season Red Bull has threatened to quit the sport if it cannot get a competitive power unit.
One sticking point in negotiations is Red Bull's demands for engine parity with Ferrari, a deal unlikely to be accepted by the powers-that-be at Maranello. F1 chief Ecclestone believes Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has lost patience with the current situation and says time is now the critical factor in keeping him in Formula One.
"He has probably had enough of everything going on," Ecclestone is quoted as saying by the Times. "I am doing everything I can to make sure Red Bull stay with us, but things need to come together quickly. He is serious when he says he will quit if things don't improve."
Ecclestone made it clear he does not want Red Bull to quit the sport -- a decision which would likely see junior team Toro Rosso leave as well -- and admitted the current situation is "not ideal".
"Red Bull obviously want the best engines so they can compete, but Mercedes and Ferrari don't want to do that because they fear what will happen. It is not ideal but Mr Mateschitz will have to be patient. We definitely do not want them to leave."