Breaking news

Formula 1

F1's three-engine rule "absolutely barking mad" - Horner

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has called Formula 1's move to three engines for the whole of the 2018 season "barking mad."

Adam Cooper

Adam Cooper

Edited: Nov 24, 2017, 4:21 PM

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing RB13

When the V6 turbo engine rules were written, the FIA included a glide path from five engines per season to four in 2017 and then three next year – and with only two examples of the MGU-K, control electronics and energy store allowed.

This year's ongoing issues for Renault and Honda have indicated that three will be a difficult target for the manufacturers to meet in a season that will also include one extra race compared to 2017.

Red Bull, whose drivers have been hit by grid penalties on several occasions, has previously suggested that the current limit be kept in place next year.

However, the proposal was blocked by Ferrari.

"For me it's absolutely barking mad," Horner told Channel 4. "We've only just got through this year on six engines, I think.

"To go to three next year for more races is nutty, to be honest. You're still burning these engines up on the dyno, but the reality is it doesn't save any money.

"These grid penalties, I don't think anybody particularly likes seeing them to the extent that there happening at the moment. If you came to the last race and it was decided on engine penalties that wouldn't be great.

"We want to see the guys out on the track, obviously not throw caution to the wind with costs, but for me five engines for a 21 race championship would be a more sensible and logical number."

Horner is hoping that Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo make it through the Abu Dhabi weekend without further penalties.

"Today we've got older units in the car that have been previously used, so if we can get through P1 and P2 today without an engine change then that puts us in a better position for Saturday and Sunday, when hopefully we can throw caution to the wind a bit."

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Read also :

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Previous article Abu Dhabi GP: Vettel leads Hamilton, Verstappen in FP1

Next article Gallery: Key F1 tech shots at Abu Dhabi GP

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

More from

Adam Cooper



RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024

Formula 1

Formula 1

Japanese GP

RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024



Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team

Formula 1

Formula 1

Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team



Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility

Formula 1

Formula 1

Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility

Latest news



Ryo Hirakawa could have "easily" made Q2 in F1 Mexico GP without late traffic

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Mexican GP

2 min

Ryo Hirakawa could have "easily" made Q2 in F1 Mexico GP without late traffic



Carson Kvapil wins Martinsville as Justin Allgaier takes NASCAR O’Reilly points lead

NASCAR O'Reilly

NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly

Martinsville II

10 min

Carson Kvapil wins Martinsville as Justin Allgaier takes NASCAR O’Reilly points lead



F1 Mexico GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Mexican GP

12 min

F1 Mexico GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch



"Up there for pole": Max Verstappen rues Turn 13 traffic in F1 Mexico GP qualifying

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Mexican GP

15 min

"Up there for pole": Max Verstappen rues Turn 13 traffic in F1 Mexico GP qualifying

Feature

Discover prime content



Why Isack Hadjar deserves a medal, not a warning, after paddock "incident"

Formula 1

Mexican GP

By Stuart Codling

Why Isack Hadjar deserves a medal, not a warning, after paddock "incident"



What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 Mexico GP

Formula 1

Mexican GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 Mexico GP



What’s the state of play at F1’s smallest team?

Formula 1

By Jake Boxall-Legge

What’s the state of play at F1’s smallest team?



Is history really repeating itself? What Christian Horner’s Adrian Newey claim says about Aston Martin and Red Bull

Formula 1

By Ronald Vording

Is history really repeating itself? What Christian Horner’s Adrian Newey claim says about Aston Martin and Red Bull

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts

Subscribe