Horner: F1 shooting itself in the foot with wing changes

Red Bull chief Christian Horner says Formula 1 is about to "shoot itself in the foot" by changing aerodynamic regulations in the 2019 season. Plans were confirmed last week to change the design of front wings on cars in an attempt to aid overtaking.

A gritty season-opening Australian Grand Prix, which featured just five passing manoeuvres on-track, raised fears that the 2018 season could feature dull races, although the subsequent grands prix have been suitably entertaining.

Red Bull were vocally against the plans to change the regulations, and Horner says teams will have to splash out "millions" to design new parts - contrasting somewhat against Liberty Media's intention to introduce budget caps in 2021 and beyond.

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"Sometimes this sport has the ability to shoot itself in the foot," Horner told Sky Sports at the Spanish Grand Prix.

"The work that has been done for 2021 is all good stuff the problem is a snapshot of that has been taken and hasn't been fully analysed and there are no proven conclusions from it.

"It has then been rushed into a set of regulations that completely conflict with existing regulations so they are now scrapping around trying to sort that out this weekend.

"It completely changes the philosophy of the car because the front wing will be wider and different.

"The point that the air meets the air is the front wing and that then changes everything behind it: the suspension, the bodywork, absolutely every single component.

"We talk about costs and being responsible but what has just been introduced is a completely new concept which will cost millions and millions of pounds.

"It was rushed after Melbourne because there was not a lot of overtaking, when has there ever been a lot of overtaking in Melbourne, and then we've had three great races since then."