Christian Horner has also responded to the alleged ‘engine trick’ by Mercedes and Red Bull. The two teams are reported to have found a way to raise the power unit’s compression ratio, which can deliver lap-time gains. Horner was present when Red Bull’s power unit division—Red Bull Powertrains—was established, and he defends the possible ‘trick’ of his former employer: ‘In F1 it’s about how you interpret the rules.’
It’s the topic that has occupied the minds in Formula 1 for weeks: the ‘engine trick’ of Mercedes and Red Bull. The two teams are said to have found a way to increase the power unit’s compression ratio while the cars still comply with the technical regulations.
‘Daring claim’
The Brit was therefore asked by Australia’s Today about the whole saga surrounding the ‘engine tricks’, and whether manufacturers are indeed cheating this way. “Well, that’s a bold claim,” Horner fired back. “Formula 1 is about pushing boundaries. It’s about how you interpret the rules. That’s always been the case and always will be. The most conservative teams are the teams that are never at the front. You have to push the limits.”
According to Horner, that’s why it’s crucial for teams to bring in “the smartest engineers in the world.” “It all comes down to how you interpret the rules,” the former team boss continues. “Engineers, some of the smartest engineers in the world, will look at those rules and think: okay, how can I maximise performance?” If Mercedes and Red Bull have indeed applied the ‘engine trick’, that could deliver better fuel efficiency and even a few tenths of a second.
