Horner: F1 needs unpredictability to thrive

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner claims Formula One needs to be as unpredictable as last weekend’s British Grand Prix in order to remain a popular success.

Having locked out the front row once again, Mercedes entered Sunday’s race as the heavy favourites but a superb getaway from both Williams immediately put the championship leaders on the back foot.

This meant pole sitter Lewis Hamilton and team-mate Nico Rosberg had a major fight on their hands to get back ahead, with a series of showers spicing up things still further at Silverstone.

“Fans want to see competition and we have had a dominant team for the last 18 months,” said Horner, whose Red Bull team dominantly secured four consecutive championships between 2010 and 2013. “They have done a good job and they deserve to be in that position.

“You can understand on the other hand that when the results are extremely predictable that it does not add to the appeal, whereas what we saw after the first lap it was going to be unpredictable and then after the rain it was going to be unpredictable.”

A recent Strategy Group meeting at Biggin Hill led to a raft of changes and suggestions to improve the sport, with proposals ranging from “aggressive” car regulations for 2017 to an “innovative” race weekend format.

Horner puts forward another idea and calls for the creation of a new support event where F1 drivers would use the same machinery.

“There used to be a thing called Procar years ago where the top drivers get in a one-make car and would race it out.

“I think will be fun for the fans and the promoters.

“In today’s world of commercial tie-ups and pressures, it would be nice to explore the concept at certain events to bring out some older drivers as well and put the new guys against some of the older guys.

“On a GP weekend, the drivers have more time than ever before on their hands. It is a concept to be discussed, but why not?”

The BMW M1 Procar Championship lasted for two seasons, with Niki Lauda winning the series in 1979 and Nelson Piquet succeeding the Austrian the following year.

Click here for F1i's driver ratings from the British Grand Prix

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