- Mercedes
Red Bull proposal governed by self-interest - Mercedes
Mercedes executive director (technical) Paddy Lowe says Red Bull's push for changes to the new power units is selfishly motivated.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner is leading the charge for a move towards a more simplified version of the current V6 engines for 2016, something which he claims will lower costs for manufacturers. Red Bull's four years of dominance in F1 came to an end with Mercedes' record-breaking year in 2014 and Lowe thinks that is the only reason for Horner's recent suggestions.
"Nothing could be a clearer example than what we're seeing, where somebody is feeling that he's not on top of the heap at the moment, therefore the rules are all wrong," Lowe told F1 journalist Adam Cooper's blog. "I don't remember that happening before. I've worked in teams who have had good years and very bad years, I don't remember anyone ever saying that we should change the rules so that I can win again. I don't get it.
"We've got clear rules, it was all designed with everyone's agreement. The reason you have rules for stability in F1, particularly around the power unit, is that it allows people to set good regulations at a distance to be uninvolved with your relative performance. When people are asking for rule changes at short notice it's all about self-interest."
The debate stems from Renault and Ferrari's desire to end the engine freeze, which prevents major development to engines after homologation at the start of the season. Horner also thinks the new power units have put an unnecessary financial strain on manufacturers but Lowe finds his new suggestions laughable.
"Apparently a twin-turbo is supposed to be cheaper and a cost saving measure against a single turbo. I haven't quite worked that one out! Perhaps we'll find out how that works. It completely contradicts all the other discussions in F1 which are around being cost effective and maintaining a platform whereby teams can compete whether they are financed as we are one end of the grid, or at the other. There is one simple fact in F1, rule changes cost money, particularly ones involving the engine, so it's just the most ridiculous idea I've ever heard for how to save costs in F1."
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