Red Bull’s Christian Horner suggests Formula 1 teams entice FIA into reconsidering perplexing “third car” rules

Christian Horner, a dedicated team boss of the 2023 Constructors leaders, Red Bull, has always been cool-headed, solving problems in a very strategic manner. However, the expert is panicking about the FIA’s decision about “third car” rules.

Horner is urging the F1 to plead with the FIA to change or bend the rules for the Red Bull team and, hence, has explained his dismay in several interviews.

Christian Horner urges Formula 1 teams to persuade the FIA

Christian Horner was unhappy about the “third car” rules, as it took a lot of time for the RB19 to be fully ready to race in 2 hours, which was the time limit given by the FIA.

He said, “I think it’s something that team managers need to look at, something a bit more sensible, because now for two weeks with Williams and ourselves, it has been far from ideal.”

After that, he added, “No chance. With the damage to the crash structure and so on, that would have been impossible… They did a phenomenal job to turn it all around.”

The team boss has also implied that Mercedes has been having too many advantages rather than playing fair.  He also unveiled how celebrities like Taylor Swift are lucky to get a ticket to F1 races.

He said: “When we were winning – and we were never winning with an advantage that Mercedes has – double-diffusers were banned, exhausts were moved, flexible bodywork was banned, engine-mapping was changed mid-season – anything was done to pull us back. That was not just us, it was done to McLaren and Williams in other years.”

The FIA came up with a bunch of different ideas to make the game fair; however, Horner was dissatisfied with the fact that Mercedes would have the same advantage as any other team on the ground.

“Take nothing from Mercedes, they have done a super job. They have a good car, a fantastic engine and two very good drivers.”

“The problem is that the gap is so big that you end up with three-tier racing and that is not healthy for Formula One.”

“I fear the interest will wane. I didn’t see much of Mercedes on the television and I can only imagine that it isn’t interesting watching a procession so the producer was looking for other battles going on in the race – except there weren’t that many cars to look at. The highlight for me was Arnie Schwarzenegger on the podium.”

Exploring F1 ‘third car’ rules

“Third Car” rules are often unknown to many people. It is basically when reserve drivers, who are also called third drivers, are permitted to participate in Friday sessions. However, each team can only utilize two cars, which means a regular race driver has to vacate their seat.

A qualifying round is therefore conducted to establish the race-starting grid for Sunday, following the final practice session.

Do you think Horner’s urging the FIA to change the rules was a good idea? Do let us know in the comment section below!