In the wake of the revelation that the only driver starting Sunday's Italian Grand Prix from the position in which they qualified was Lewis Hamilton, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner was asked why the sport cannot agree on an alternative to the much-disliked engine penalty system.

With a straight face, the Briton told reporters that one of the biggest hurdles facing the sport is the self-interest of the teams.

Of course, his two drivers were among those hit hardest, for despite qualifying second and third, due to their various grid penalties the pair started the race 13th (Verstappen) and 16th Ricciardo.

With both drivers likely to incur further penalties in the remaining 7 races, and aware that next season sees the engine and component allocation reduced to three, Horner is calling for the allocation to return to 2016 levels of five units.

"For me that should be number one on the agenda for the next strategy meeting," says Horner.

"I tried to get it changed at an earlier meeting in the year but there was no support for it," he added, the Briton clearly not having taken on board the fact that the Mercedes-powered teams, for example, are still, for the most part, on their third units.

"I would hope that would now perhaps be different with teams incurring and staring down the barrel of further penalties between now and the end of the year," he continued.

"It's not saving the cost because the engines are going on a world tour anyway," he insisted, "they're being used and you're just incurring penalties as a result. Perhaps we need to get back to a more equitable balance. Maybe five engines is the right number rather than four going to three.

"This (rule) has done nothing positive since it was introduced," he continued. "What concerns me is that we are now going to three engines for next year, with more races. To me, that should be number one on the agenda at the next Strategy Group meeting.

Of course, if the Red Bull's had the ultra-reliable Mercedes engines in the back, or even Ferraris, we are sure Mr Horner would be more than sympathetic to those teams running Renault power unit and calling for the same change to the regulations.

What was that about self-interest, Christian?

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Vinodh Moodley, 07/09/2017 14:55

"This is F1, not endurance racing. Limiting fuel flow, having only three engines for the season and tyre that are made of cheese is a really stupid set of rules.

We want noisy engines, drivers pushing to the limit on every lap of the race, less stupid ultra-wide cars with massive aero-wash and more ground effect to aid drivers in following closer. They should bring back the t-car for young drivers to use in FP1 and FP2 and as a backup if a race driver's car fails. Teams should be allowed to use a lot more engines so that a driver doesn't have to get penalised for a something he had nothing to do with.

I've been following F1 since the late eighties but this season might be the last for me. Next year's halo introduction, less engines plus the oil flow rule will be the final straw for me: watching who can win by driving the slowest isn't F1."

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2. Posted by Stitch431, 07/09/2017 8:10

"If we head on like this. Next year the team who is able to spare the most of its engines in save mode, will be World Champ..."

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3. Posted by Paul C, 05/09/2017 16:14

"Easy solution is 10 engines. Fewer and fewer engines and components means the Mercedes Pace cars and the Medical Station Wagons might as well be the only racers."

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4. Posted by nonickname, 05/09/2017 14:50

"It is not working anyway! All teams, incl. Mercedes would simply take the penalty and start from the back. Expect Honda to upgrade every race going forward. It makes no difference to them, or for that matter Renault if they start at the back,they are working for next year... again.
Imagine if Motogp had these stupid FIA rules. They would be in the same boat with ridiculous rules on engines ruining the racing.Rossi's accident would have cause 'Halos" to cover the entire bike."

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5. Posted by Hobgoblin, 05/09/2017 14:03

"Bwahahaha!"

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6. Posted by TedS, 05/09/2017 12:28

"Make it last.. or pay the piper. It is the rule. and honestly you get off easy as you didn't actually serve your entire penalty. Perhaps if the penalty was served in total.. meaning if you got a 15 spot penalty and qualified 5th you will go to the back and still have 5 spots to serve in the next GP.

The idea was to push technology to make long life engines... that is the formula. Either follow the rules and get a good engine that lasts or pay the penalty. "

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Horner wants engine allocation increased

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