Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes that moves must be made to equalise engine performance in Formula One and that the issue will be critical in deciding if his team will continue to use Renault engines.
Although Horner praised his team’s relationship with French manufacturer, the current Renault engine is said to be around 30BHP down on the field’s leading power units.
As a result, the Englishman is hoping that a solution can be found between all teams to allow the current engine development freeze to be lifted – allowing the French manufacturer to get closer to its rivals.
“Renault as a partner are an excellent partner to work with, we have absolutely parity with the Enstone team,” Horner is reported as saying by Autosport.com.
“The problem is, as it always has been, that under the current regulations, the way that the freeze currently is, you freeze in advantages and disadvantages, and you might think it is ironic that I sit here talking about an engine disadvantage despite having six pole positions and three wins.
“But I think it demonstrates the job the guys are doing with the chassis, they are doing a phenomenal job at the moment because we probably are 20-30bhp down on the class of the field.
“While we enjoy a chassis advantage at the moment, that might not be the case in two or three races times, and then the engine becomes a determining factor, and once you have frozen a product to freeze an advantage or a disadvantage for a three or four years period is unfair.
“The manufacturers need to get together among themselves and agree a formula to move forward.”
Horner also stating that the current engine freeze was the sticking point for Red Bull, admitting that the team would be happy to carry on working with the French manufacturer if it was allowed to find more power.
“We are very happy with the support we get from Renault,” he said. “If the issues of parity can be dealt with, then there is absolutely no reason for change.
“I don’t know if a Mercedes engine would be available – but the important thing is that the manufacturers get together among themselves and agree an acceptable tolerance where they are going to be.”