- Red Bull
Vote against engine freeze the only option - Red Bull
Christian Horner says Red Bull may have to "face the pain" next year and vote against an engine freeze for 2016.
Freeze or thaw?
- Red Bull and Ferrari are leading the push for a 'thaw' in the regulations which currently prevents in-season development after engine homologation at the start of the year. That rule has prevented Renault and Ferrari cutting the huge advantage Mercedes established at the start of 2014.
Talks about a thaw in Brazil broke down when Mercedes offered a compromise for 2015; a small in-season window for development which was much less than the other teams desired. With the regulations locked in for 2015 unanimous support is needed to change rules for next year - unlikely with Mercedes steadfastly opposed - while only a majority vote is required to alter 2016 and onwards.
While considering this option Red Bull boss Horner thinks it would be a disaster with F1 budgets already a subject of intense debate following the demise of Caterham and Marussia.
"I think that's the only option because with the majority vote 16/17/18 can be opened up," Horner said. "We'll have to face the pain in 2015 in order to open it up in 16/17, which is ridiculous because it just means we're all going to end up spending a lot more money over a longer period of time. What should happen is a window should be open to allow Renault, Ferrari, Honda to try and close that gap."
Horner says the desire to change the regulations is not to stifle the advantage of Mercedes but to ensure fair play.
"There's no guarantee that we can close that gap significantly to Mercedes but not having the opportunity to do is the thing that seems to be unpalatable. especially on engine technology that's so immature. It's a very frustrating situation. We spent a long time talking about it. We've agreed a position twice now and it changes and it constantly changes so I think there's an awful lot of frustration now between the teams."
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