Independent engine plan a no-brainer - Horner

FIA president Jean Todt and F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone are pushing ahead with the idea of opening a tender for a supply of cheap customer engines to teams.

Both men think the current high price that teams are charged for the 1.6-litre turbo V6s is too high for F1 to be sustainable in the long term.

However, not many outfits are in favour of the plan, and even small team Sauber has suggested that it does not like the idea of there being two types of engine in F1.

When asked if he believed the independent engine plan would ultimately be rejected by teams, Horner said: "I am sure if there is enough willingness and enough teams that are struggling financially, that if you can take $20 million out of your engine/chassis budget then it is a no-brainer.

"Maybe they [the small teams] won't be here in 2017 if the current engine prices stay the same. So that is a decision for the individual teams to make.

"But when they have been complaining about price and cost, and then the first thing that comes along offers a significant reduction, I would be amazed if teams don't snap it up."

Supportive of plan

Horner has made clear that Red Bull is fully behind the idea of an independent engine supplier, whose presence in F1 now would have ended his team's crisis of being without a power unit for 2016.

"I think it is crucial," he said. "As we are demonstrating quite clearly, there is no regulation that dictates that engines suppliers have to supply, let along at a competitive price.

"An independent engine for the future of F1 is for us a no-brainer. If you cannot get engines elsewhere you cannot race.

"For F1 it is important to have a competitive economical engine, and if it cannot be the current engine then there needs to be another engine."