bigbadbrother
10-14-2014, 07:01 PM
Adam Cooper
Christian Horner is adamant that Mercedes should back plans for an engine unfreeze for the good of the sport.
Mercedes was not able to block the proposal at the F1 Strategy Group meeting, but it can do so at the upcoming F1 Commission meeting, where unanimity is required for 2015 rule changes.
The rules already allow for quite substantial engine updates over the winter, but Mercedes' rivals want to be allowed to make at least one development step during next season.
I think for F1 it's important, said Horner. We saw today Nico's performance the true performance is that they can drive through the field, and I think it's too out of kilter, five Mercedes-powered cars in the top five. The immaturity of this technology is still quite raw, and I think Mercedes shouldn't be afraid of competition. They are doing a super job but I think it's healthy for F1 that Ferrari, Honda, Renault should have that ability to close that gap, otherwise we're going to end up in a very stagnant position.
I think it's a bigger issue than just about the teams. It's about what's right for the sport, what's right for the fans. It's easy to take a self-interest position, but when you look at what is the right thing for F1, I think it's to have competition. The rules are the rules, which they are at the moment, but I think we need to be big enough to say let's open a little bit, be responsible on costs so there is no impact for the customer teams, but have that position.
Horner said that the winter window was not enough: You've got until February to do that, and then you're locked down again. So it's a very, very small window in order to achieve that. There was an agreement in Singapore, everybody voted unanimously to have one further step in the season, but that seems to have been reneged on.
He acknowledged that given extra development options Mercedes could still do a better job.
Quite possibly, but at least you've got the ability to try and improve, because at the moment you're frozen with what you've got. You're running with your hands tied behind your back. If it's competition like it is on the chassis side, if you start off on the back foot you can develop your way out of that. I think that on the engine side it's important that while the technology is still quite immature that responsibly not just open carte blanche development you should be able to have a couple of increments during the season.
Ferrari boss Marco Mattiacci is also adamant that F1 needs an engine unfreeze in 2015 and that it is a matter of principle in that the sport should be about innovation.
Mattiacci was quizzed regarding the unlikelihood of Mercedes changing its mind and supporting an unfreeze at the next F1 Commission meeting.
In life is it important to try, he said. We are trying to do our best because we have a strong belief that innovation is at the base of the success of F1. We're a company that produces the pinnacle of engineering, so I think it is important that innovation is at the center of this F1. I cannot go back to my fans and say I cannot perform better in the engine, I need to wait one year. I don't think it is a fair answer. We absolutely stick to the principles of these new regulations. We're not asking to change, we're asking for a fine tuning, applying the same principle.
If we win, if it may be possible, otherwise, that's it. Let's arrive to the F1 Commission, then we'll see the consequences. One step at a time.
Questioned on the possibility of costs rising he said: I think honestly from our point of view there is not a cost increase, and again the other argument maybe today if I had the possibility to upgrade my engines, maybe the teams I supply would have scored points, and would have extra revenues. For a small team not to have the possibility to catch up is much more dramatic than for a big team.
I have always said the engine unfreeze is not a silver bullet, that I'm going to catch up with Mercedes. Again it's a principle, sometimes you fight for a principle. I think the F1 I grew up [with] is about innovation and catching up with the best. We are working in order that aside of the engine unfreeze upgrade, we are working very hard to catch up, but that's a principle we are working on.
Christian Horner is adamant that Mercedes should back plans for an engine unfreeze for the good of the sport.
Mercedes was not able to block the proposal at the F1 Strategy Group meeting, but it can do so at the upcoming F1 Commission meeting, where unanimity is required for 2015 rule changes.
The rules already allow for quite substantial engine updates over the winter, but Mercedes' rivals want to be allowed to make at least one development step during next season.
I think for F1 it's important, said Horner. We saw today Nico's performance the true performance is that they can drive through the field, and I think it's too out of kilter, five Mercedes-powered cars in the top five. The immaturity of this technology is still quite raw, and I think Mercedes shouldn't be afraid of competition. They are doing a super job but I think it's healthy for F1 that Ferrari, Honda, Renault should have that ability to close that gap, otherwise we're going to end up in a very stagnant position.
I think it's a bigger issue than just about the teams. It's about what's right for the sport, what's right for the fans. It's easy to take a self-interest position, but when you look at what is the right thing for F1, I think it's to have competition. The rules are the rules, which they are at the moment, but I think we need to be big enough to say let's open a little bit, be responsible on costs so there is no impact for the customer teams, but have that position.
Horner said that the winter window was not enough: You've got until February to do that, and then you're locked down again. So it's a very, very small window in order to achieve that. There was an agreement in Singapore, everybody voted unanimously to have one further step in the season, but that seems to have been reneged on.
He acknowledged that given extra development options Mercedes could still do a better job.
Quite possibly, but at least you've got the ability to try and improve, because at the moment you're frozen with what you've got. You're running with your hands tied behind your back. If it's competition like it is on the chassis side, if you start off on the back foot you can develop your way out of that. I think that on the engine side it's important that while the technology is still quite immature that responsibly not just open carte blanche development you should be able to have a couple of increments during the season.
Ferrari boss Marco Mattiacci is also adamant that F1 needs an engine unfreeze in 2015 and that it is a matter of principle in that the sport should be about innovation.
Mattiacci was quizzed regarding the unlikelihood of Mercedes changing its mind and supporting an unfreeze at the next F1 Commission meeting.
In life is it important to try, he said. We are trying to do our best because we have a strong belief that innovation is at the base of the success of F1. We're a company that produces the pinnacle of engineering, so I think it is important that innovation is at the center of this F1. I cannot go back to my fans and say I cannot perform better in the engine, I need to wait one year. I don't think it is a fair answer. We absolutely stick to the principles of these new regulations. We're not asking to change, we're asking for a fine tuning, applying the same principle.
If we win, if it may be possible, otherwise, that's it. Let's arrive to the F1 Commission, then we'll see the consequences. One step at a time.
Questioned on the possibility of costs rising he said: I think honestly from our point of view there is not a cost increase, and again the other argument maybe today if I had the possibility to upgrade my engines, maybe the teams I supply would have scored points, and would have extra revenues. For a small team not to have the possibility to catch up is much more dramatic than for a big team.
I have always said the engine unfreeze is not a silver bullet, that I'm going to catch up with Mercedes. Again it's a principle, sometimes you fight for a principle. I think the F1 I grew up [with] is about innovation and catching up with the best. We are working in order that aside of the engine unfreeze upgrade, we are working very hard to catch up, but that's a principle we are working on.