Independent engine "most important" for F1 future - Horner

At a recent meeting between Ross Brawn, the FIA and representatives of the engine suppliers it was agreed that a new formula should be louder, simpler and cheaper, while retaining an element of energy recovery.

Red Bull boss Horner says that the rules must also allow newcomers to enter the market.

"I think the most important thing for F1 post-2020 is a competitive independent engine," he told Motorsport.com. "I think the regulations for that need to be set very soon.

"The engine within F1 is the biggest element that the commercial rights holder is focussed on, because it dictates so many things, relating to cost, relating to performance and differential between suppliers – it's not great to see Fernando Alonso and McLaren in the situation that they're in, for example.

"Also from a show perspective and a fan's perspective, the engines need to be louder, and sound like F1 engines.

"So there are key criteria that need to be address that are very much the focus of the Liberty guys right now."

Horner agreed that cutting costs by regulation was the way forward for F1, rather than a budget cap – backing F1 CEO Chase Carey's view that the teams want to be "protected from themselves."

"It has to be, you've got to control costs through regulations – some of the Holy Grail of wind tunnels, CFD, the amount of ideas that you can put into the pipe. If you make the pipe smaller, then some of your costs will naturally fall away.

"To take out emotion and self gain, hopefully the FIA with Liberty need to look at 2021 regulations to say, what should F1 be? Should there be an element of standardisation for components that the average fan has no idea about? I get the feeling it will be quite radical."

Horner also acknowledged that Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz is wary of a possible cut in income once the current Concorde Agreement runs out in 2020. Like Ferrari and other major players, RBR currently has a healthy guaranteed payment, irrespective of results.

"He's waiting patiently to see what the approach is. It's unimaginable for Red Bull's costs to increase. They probably invest more in the sport than any other manufacturer, across two Grand Prix teams and a Grand Prix track. We'll see and await with interest to see what Liberty's plans are regarding the future.

"We have an open dialogue with Chase. He listens, he's obviously learning all the time, he's got a very experienced lieutenant in Ross, who knows the business inside out.

"I think there's been some very, very healthy discussion between Red Bull and Liberty regarding digital media approach, regarding event approach, et cetera."