FIA Racing Point ruling to set a precedent for 2021 - Horner

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes there is a considerable amount riding on the FIA's investigation into Renault's protest of the Racing Point RP20.

Horner feels Formula 1 may be at a crossroads, with the FIA decision likely to set a precedent as to what teams will or will not be able to do with regard to car design in the future.

Renault has protested the brake ducts on the RP20, which it claims go against the FIA regulations on listed parts, and that it is a direct copy of the system on Mercedes' 2019 W10.

"We'll follow it [the protest] with interest because obviously, the outcome of that will dictate strategies for different teams for next year. A lot weighs on that," Horner told Sky Sports F1.

"The FIA just need to say yes they're fine with it, or no they're not. So a ruling on that sooner rather than later, for all teams I think, would be beneficial."

The Red Bull boss, though, maintains his stance that, if copying a design is allowed within the regulations, the sport should reconsider its ban on customer cars.

"I've always stood by the fact that it's cheaper to sell a car than it is to copy it," said Horner.

"You can see the closeness of those two cars, and obviously, I'm sure it probably is within the rules in that there's no copyright in Formula 1.

"If you take photographs and you scan them and you recreate that shape - it depends how they've had access, I guess, to those components, which is what Renault is complaining about.

"It's the fastest route to competitiveness as Racing Point has demonstrated."

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