Red Bull chief Horner brands Liberty's plans 'ambitious'

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has labelled Liberty Media's "vision" for Formula 1 in 2021 and beyond as "ambitious". Horner believes the plans will be of greatest benefit to the smaller teams in F1, with Ferrari's threats of quitting the sport still hanging in the air.

Key to Liberty's future plans are "cheaper, simpler" power units, as well as introducing budget caps - both of which have incensed the Scuderia.

Although the plans will not be introduced for another two and a half years, Horner says Liberty must press on to nail down how the future looks.

"It needs to be done within the next couple of months, but that's ambitious," the Red Bull boss told Sky Sports F1. "There's some big topics to deal with there: engines, budget caps and redistribution of prize fund.

"It's ambitious but they've got to go for it. At least they've put a target down to say we want this nailed within a couple of months.

"They are not keen to conduct all the negotiation through the media and this gives you the bare bones but the bottom line is this is going to have a much bigger effect on three or four teams running at the front of the grid.

"The guys from P4 downwards are potentially going to get a lot of upside. So you should see some fairly happy faces down that end of the paddock and some bigger challenges at this end of the paddock."

The CEO of Aston Martin, Andy Palmer, took to Twitter after Liberty's announcement, suggesting that the luxury supercar brand could be tempted into the sport once the new regulations are in place.

We are extremely pleased to hear today’s news regarding the future of Formula One. These prospective changes support many of the requirements needed for Aston Martin to enter the sport as an engine supplier. This is a very positive step in the right direction. — Andy Palmer (@AndyatAston) April 6, 2018

Aston Martin currently serves as Red Bull's title sponsor and the Milton Keynes squad would be expected to take on their engines if they join F1.

Horner said of Palmer's post: "There are manufacturers that are looking on the outskirts on Formula 1, wanting to come in.

"But the way that the regulations are currently written [makes] that it prohibitive. The drawbridge is up.

"It's a question of getting the drawbridge down, getting the costs down and getting the spectacle right."