F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Wolff admits Red Bull's Horner was 'livid' over 2019 rule changes

Formula 1's decision to tweak a series of aerodynamic rules for next year had Red Bull team boss Christian Horner up in arms says Mercedes' Toto Wolff.

In a bid to promote closer racing and overtaking, the F1 Commission recently passed a series of rule changes for 2019 that include a simpler structured front wing and brake ducts as well as a deeper rear wing.

Horner took issue with the changes, insisting the modifications had been hastily voted through without much consideration for the costs they will impose on teams.

While the vote was more or less split between the teams, Formula 1 and the FIA forced the issue which in turn drew an apoplectic reaction from Horner.

"I haven’t seen [Horner] that livid," Wolff told Sky Sports.

"It seems to be upsetting them massively. I don’t know why, for us it was a 50-50 decision.

"We wanted to be supportive of the work that’s been done and the direction looks correct."

Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko suggested however that Mercedes had a different agenda in mind when the vote was cast.

"Mercedes wanted the new rules because they’re at the end with their aerodynamic concept. They want to start from scratch because it hurts us," Marko said.

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