Red Bull F1 boss Horner senses Bernie Ecclestone's 'frustration'

As 2016's F1 pre-season testing started in Barcelona, Ecclestone claimed "Formula 1 is the worst it has ever been" in the UK's Daily Mail newspaper, and he would not pay money to take his family to watch a race.

Horner feels Ecclestone is currently banging his head against a brick wall in his failed attempts to implement change, given the democracy that exists, and FIA president Jean Todt's stubbornness to act in its best interests.

"All I can ascertain is he must be frustrated with where Formula 1 currently is and he wants change to come about," said Horner.

"The frustration Bernie must have is that in the old days he could get what he wanted, whether that be for an engine supply, a regulation change, whatever.

"In the modern world that is Formula 1, and the democracy Formula 1 is, that doesn't happen, and that frustrates him.

"He can see changes he'd like to happen, but unless the CRH (commercial rights holder) and the governing body are absolutely aligned, then it continually falls through the net."

Horner disagrees that F1 is as bad as Ecclestone claims, adding: "Bernie's made the F1 brand to what it is today.

"Of course, it has its issues, but fundamentally it's a great show, it has an enormous following around the world, and the talent that exists - the driving and engineering skill - is unique in the sporting playing field.

"Could it be better? Of course it could, and I feel we've a great opportunity to address some of the issues for the future, but I don't think F1 is in crisis.

"It's part of the theatre that is F1, and the rivalries that exist between the different teams."

HORNER DISMAYED AT COMPROMISE SOLUTION

Horner feels the Strategy Group and F1 Commission meetings tomorrow in Geneva represent "an opportunity to do something really good", by introducing rules for 2017 designed to make the cars five to six seconds per lap quicker as outlined last May.

There are suggestions, given the failure of the majority of the teams to agree on the way ahead, cars could alternatively be 'downgraded' to two to three seconds per lap faster.

But a dismayed Horner will not be voting for that as he said: "Either do the job properly, or don't do it at all.

"Hopefully there is a chance to do the job properly and come up with a great set of regulations for 2017."

Autosport understands that given the disparity in views, there is likely to be a delay in the implementation in the rules until 2018.

But Horner feels another year will not solve the issues at hand as he said: "What's going to be different in 12 months' time?

"We've done all the research, done the numbers. You can use whatever excuse you like."