Horner: Teams dismissed independent advisor idea
Christian Horner says his idea to employ an independent 'consultant' to oversee discussions and implementation of new rules and regulations within F1 has not developed further after other teams and the governing body opposed it.
A staunch critic of the current regulations, Horner has lobbied to get certain regulations changed for 2017, but plans to instigate change through the Strategy Group has repeatedly stumbled as vested interests amongst the different figures make coming to a final conclusion difficult.
Indeed, Horner has been critical of the Strategy Group in the past and has challenged the governing body to take control of the situation by laying down the regulations in its vision and then leaving it up to the teams to participate or quit.
However, Horner did also raise the suggestion that it should consider consulting an knowledgeable and independent figure to help draw conclusions in the interests of the sport, with now-retired former Ferrari, Brawn and Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn highlighted as an example.
Nonetheless, though the plan drew a positive reaction outside the paddock, Horner says teams and the governing body have dismissed it.
"Unfortunately the teams and the governing body did like it so it didn't go any further," he told Crash.net. "Ross would be an obvious type of candidate as he has been around the sport for a number of years, understands the technical sporting side extremely well and isn't aligned to any team at this time, but he's probably enjoying his fishing too much."
Despite this, change is on the horizon for 2017 regardless and though many are concerned the radicalness of what is being proposed can't be attained in that time, Horner is confident that F1 in less than 18 months' will look very different.
"I think Formula 1 needs to be spectacular, it needs to be challenging, with the fastest cars and the cars need to leave you with a wow factor. Then there has got to be the best drivers in the world and be racing them wheel-to-wheel flat out rather than lift and coast elements. We need to get back to straightforward sprint races with the best drivers in the world in the best cars in the world.
"I do think it is achievable in 2017. I think 2017 represents a blank canvass and there is a real opportunity to get it right. The things we are looking at are going in the right direction."
