Horner: 'Renault 56kW down on Merc'

LONDON, England - Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has quoted an alarming figure for the power deficit of the team's Renault 'power units to those of dominant Mercedes through 2014.

He declared to the Italian publication Autosprint: "Our engine has 56kW less than the Mercedes."

Renault and Ferrari are pushing hard for the so-called 'engine development freeze' to be relaxed but Mercedes is understandably resisting. So a big argument is taking place between struggling Renault - Red Bull's works supplier - and F1's other engine suppliers Ferrari and Mercedes.

TIED HANDS

Horner said: "If you look at the speed in the corners we are always the best. Unfortunately we don't have the power that we need. When you are 56kW down it doesn't really matter what else you have.

"What can you do? Nothing."

He thought it unfair that when Red Bull was utterly dominant in the past F1 did not hesitate to clamp down on the team's aerodynamic advantages.

Horner added: "I hope Renault can close the gap for the future, but it's not easy because if you freeze a new technology so early it is very difficult to fix all the problems.

"In the past, always with the aim of slowing Red Bull, there were no doubts whatsoever about altering the technical regulations when we had all the double diffusers, blown diffusers, flexible parts, engine maps."

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