Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner believes Formula 1 needs to put the focus back on ensuring a great racing spectacle rather than technology in another attack on the current engines.
His latest comments come amid a number of debates surrounding engines with criticism of the grid penalty system after nine drivers were hit in Monza and the recent swaps between Toro Rosso and McLaren, as the British team looks to move on after a miserable few years with Honda.
Horner, however, has never been a fan of hybrids since their inception in 2014, though some would argue that’s because it ended Red Bull’s period of dominance, and has consistently claimed their complexity, lack of sound and the level of influence they have in determining performance is hurting the sport.
“F1 is an entertainment and a sport which is why people watch it to see the best drivers in the best car,” he told Sky Sports F1 recently. It should be predominately about the drivers and of course then the team element as well.
“It needs to look great, be a real challenge for the drivers and sound fantastic. They are the three elements we need to get back to.”
Looking forward, talks continue on shaping the future engine formula for 2021, with the main criteria being simpler, cheaper and louder. The manufacturers have argued that some level of electrification and hybrid power must remain to keep F1 road-relevant but Horner contests whether the current engines meet that point.
“There is zero road relevance what we have here,” he claimed. “The engines make no relevance to what is happening in everyday road car use and the aerodynamics don’t crossover.
“This goes back to what I have said before with F1 being at a crossroads and it needs to pick a direction. The manufacturers are now favouring Formula E as their technology route and that to me makes a great deal of sense.
“F1 is about emotion and drivers racing wheel to wheel – man and machine at the limit.”
