Horner calls for F1 engine penalty rethink

Formula 1 should look to change its current engine penalty regulations and increase the number of power units teams can use next season, according to Christian Horner.

Teams are currently restricted to a maximum of four of each power unit component during a season, with penalties being incurred for every extra component used above that limit. In Monza there were nine drivers who had to take penalties for using additional elements or replacing a gearbox, leading to a much-changed grid after the end of qualifying.

The number of power unit components that can be used during a season being further reduced from four to three next year, however Red Bull team principal Horner believes the number should be increased rather than decreased.

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"This engine has done nothing positive for F1 since it was introduced," Horner said. "What concerns me is that we are going to three engines for next year with more races. To me, that should be number one on the agenda at the next strategy meeting.

"I tried to get it changed at a meeting earlier in the year, but there was no support. I would hope that would now be different with teams incurring and staring down the barrel of future penalties between now and the end of the year.

"Obviously the penalty needs to be a significant deterrent, because the whole purpose of this limitation of engines was also cost savings. But it is not saving the costs because the engines are going on a world tour anyway. They are being used, and you are just incurring penalties as a result. So perhaps we need to get back to a more equitable balance. Maybe five engines is the right number, than four going to three."

Horner also believes that the current grid penalty procedure is too confusing for fans to follow, and should be revisited.

"It is hard enough for us to get our heads around. Even going to the grid we were trying to work out if we were going to be 12th or 13th, because Perez had picked up a penalty – but he had picked it up before or after somebody? So it is too confusing.

"It needs a serious look at to see whether there is a better way of penalizing a manufacturer or an entrant as opposed to messing around with the grid. It will only get worse, and it will be a shame to see this championship decided on grid penalties."