Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has said the FIA may need to take another look at the proposal of independent Formula One engines if the cost reduction plans in place do not materialise.
The plans to introduce an independent Formula One engine supplier were scrapped when the four current engine suppliers Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault and Honda all agreed to cut costs to customer teams, and ensure all teams had access to the supply of power units.
The FIA have been in negotiations with these four engine manufacturers for some time now and they announced last week that they had made significant progress with the plans to reduce costs, increase performance and noise of the power units, as well as plans to ensure all teams were guaranteed a supply.
Despite this progress, a confirmed set of regulations is yet to be agreed upon or approved which has meant the deadline has been moved to April 30th to ensure all regulation and rule changes are agreed upon by all parties for use in the 2017 Formula One season.
Speaking to Autosport Christian Horner said: “That’s where the FIA has to reconsider the independent engine again.
“It’s unlikely but not impossible.”
Red Bull Looking at Options
With Red Bull’s power unit deal with Renault due to expire at the end of the 2016 season, Horner is looking at alternative power unit options that will best suit Red Bull in their bid to win constructors and drivers world championships once again.
“Our options are relatively limited and fairly obvious,” said Horner. “We will see how things pan out.
“There are no new manufacturers coming in for 2017. It’s certainly too late for [them to come in] 2017.”
“The regulations say that equipment has to be the same for a works team and a customer team.
“We won a championship as a customer when Renault still had a works team in 2010.”
Horner said Red Bull running its own engine programme was out of the question.
“It’s not Red Bull’s core business to be an engine manufacturer so it doesn’t make sense.”
