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SAO PAULO, Brazil - Red Bull team principal Christian Horner fears Formula 1 could be forced into a “ridiculous”' spending race from 2016 if the engine rules are not relaxed for the 2016 season.
Weekend talks during the 2014 Brazilian GP (Nov 9) failed to find any agreement with dominant Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault and Honda on allowing some in-season development of the new V6 turbo hybrid power-units.
Any changes to the sport's technical regulations must be agreed unanimously for 2015 but can be pushed through on a majority vote for 2016 and beyond.
F1'S ENGINE 'FREEZE'
Horner told reporters at Interlagos: "With a majority vote, 2016/17/18 can be opened, so we will have to face the pain in 2015 to open it up in 2016/17/18.
"Which is ridiculous because we will all end up spending a lot more money over a longer period of time, whereas what should happen is that a window should be opened to allow Renault, Ferrari and Honda to try to close that gap (with Mercedes)."
Mercedes has won 15 of 18 races so far and started 17 from pole. They are sure of winning both championships, ending Renault-powered Red Bull's run of four in a row.
Renault and Ferrari want limited in-season development to help close the gap but Mercedes argues that would be too expensive and wants to reap the rewards of its work.
The team also says talk of an engine “freeze” is wrong since 92% can still be worked on.
'ENORMOUSLY EXPENSIVE'
Horner said mistakes were made with the 2014 engine rules that allowed a competitor to lock in an advantage without rivals being able to catch up.
Horner said: "Not only do we have an enormously expensive engine, we also have an engine on which we have done very limited development. Unfortunately, the costs of these power units has driven two teams out of this sport already - it is a big issue.
Failed Marussia and Caterham were absent from two races.
Horner was critical of Mercedes and saw little point in further talks because "you can sit in a meeting with people who then change their minds five minutes after they leave the room”.
"It is a ridiculous situation to which we cannot find a solution and I have no idea what the outcome will be.”
Weekend talks during the 2014 Brazilian GP (Nov 9) failed to find any agreement with dominant Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault and Honda on allowing some in-season development of the new V6 turbo hybrid power-units.
Any changes to the sport's technical regulations must be agreed unanimously for 2015 but can be pushed through on a majority vote for 2016 and beyond.
F1'S ENGINE 'FREEZE'
Horner told reporters at Interlagos: "With a majority vote, 2016/17/18 can be opened, so we will have to face the pain in 2015 to open it up in 2016/17/18.
"Which is ridiculous because we will all end up spending a lot more money over a longer period of time, whereas what should happen is that a window should be opened to allow Renault, Ferrari and Honda to try to close that gap (with Mercedes)."
Mercedes has won 15 of 18 races so far and started 17 from pole. They are sure of winning both championships, ending Renault-powered Red Bull's run of four in a row.
Renault and Ferrari want limited in-season development to help close the gap but Mercedes argues that would be too expensive and wants to reap the rewards of its work.
The team also says talk of an engine “freeze” is wrong since 92% can still be worked on.
'ENORMOUSLY EXPENSIVE'
Horner said mistakes were made with the 2014 engine rules that allowed a competitor to lock in an advantage without rivals being able to catch up.
Horner said: "Not only do we have an enormously expensive engine, we also have an engine on which we have done very limited development. Unfortunately, the costs of these power units has driven two teams out of this sport already - it is a big issue.
Failed Marussia and Caterham were absent from two races.
Horner was critical of Mercedes and saw little point in further talks because "you can sit in a meeting with people who then change their minds five minutes after they leave the room”.
"It is a ridiculous situation to which we cannot find a solution and I have no idea what the outcome will be.”
