Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner says changes to F1 2019’s technical regulations have been “rushed” – and doubts there will be a beneficial impact.
Formula 1 chiefs have been striving to amend technical regulations in order to promote closer racing, and agreed earlier this month to adopt a simplified front-wing, with a larger span, and low outwash potential.
A wider and deeper rear-wing will also be used next year, but Horner feels Formula 1 was too reactive to a processional Australian Grand Prix, and hit out at the extra costs teams now face.
“Sometimes this sport has the ability to shoot itself in the foot,” Horner told Sky Sports.
“The work that has been done for 2021 is all good stuff, the problem is a snapshot of that has been taken and hasn’t been fully analysed and there are no proven conclusions from it.
“It has then been rushed into a set of regulations that completely conflict with existing regulations so they are now scrapping around trying to sort that out this weekend.
“It completely changes the philosophy of the car because the front wing will be wider and different.
“The point that the air meets the air is the front wing and that then changes everything behind it: the suspension, the bodywork, absolutely every single component.
“We talk about costs and being responsible but what has just been introduced is a completely new concept which will cost millions and millions of pounds.
“It was rushed after Melbourne because there was not a lot of overtaking – when has there ever been a lot of overtaking in Melbourne – and then we’ve had three great races since then.
“Shouldn’t we be looking at the tracks and the tyre compounds and how they influence races rather than burdening the teams with what will be hundreds of millions in costs?”
Horner expanded further, commenting: "I find it frustrating that decisions are made on zero evidence or zero conclusions on theories and the burden of costs are passed on to the teams. Is it going to guarantee closer racing, and cars following closer next year? Probably not."
Horner also added that Red Bull’s decision over which engine to use in 2019 “will be at the earliest is in June”, as it evaluates current supplier Renault and Toro Rosso partner Honda.
Discussion about this post