Why Daniel Ricciardo's two bosses have parked public spat

Daniel Ricciardo’s former team principal and current boss have parked their public spat, coming together to speak out against Ferrari’s traditional power of veto on any rule changes in Formula One.

Horner, Abiteboul, Claire Williams of Williams and Zak Brown of McLaren all supported suggestions that the veto was no longer an acceptable part of a modern global sport.

Ferrari has held the power for decades as a means to retain the famous Italian marque's involvement in the competition.

But after Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto's recent suggestion that the veto served "to protect all the teams”, his rivals have put the pressure on.

Horner said the veto was "outdated", adding "you can say 'ok, it's a safety net for them representing the teams', but, ultimately, they are representing Ferrari.

"So, probably, if we are going for a clean sheet of paper, it would make sense for it not to be there and to have the same rules for everyone."

Williams, who is deputy team principal of her family's racing business, said she felt it was time for radical changes in the sport's structure.

"I think it's just silly, if I can be honest," she said.

"I have a problem in our sport anyway in the fact that I feel it is far too democratic. And I really don't feel that one team should have a right, a veto. That makes no sense to me at all.

"I feel that F1 and the FIA should take more ownership of the regulations. We run it in too much of a collegiate way, which is detrimental when we all have our own agendas.

"We need to be looking at this sport and its sustainability into the future and protecting it and protecting the true DNA of that. Doing that by committee, I think, can be very difficult.”

Horner added: "That veto was put in place – from my understanding – years and years ago to stop regulation changes. Ferrari had V12 engines and they didn't suddenly want that vetoed.

"There were all these British 'garagiste' teams then coming into the sport, but that was in the sixties and things have obviously moved on.”

Horner and Abiteboul found some common ground on the issue, putting aside their public spat over Ricciardo and Renault’s engine deal.

“I think we need Formula One to be progressive rather than defensive and that the ability to block due process can be perceived, or decided, to be a positive for the sport is probably not good,” Abiteboul said.

"Having said that, we completely recognise the specific value of Ferrari to the sport, but which can be reflected probably in the commercial agreement and not in the governance."

Brown said he felt each team had its own interests, adding that the sport's owners, Formula 1, were ultimately in control of what was in the best interests for all involved.

"Ferrari bring a tremendous amount to the sport that can be recognised in other ways,” he said.

with AFP