As revealed by Autosport earlier, F1 teams have been asking the FIA to conduct a more thorough analysis of the impact of the new 2026 cars and engines amid concerns about how they will perform on track.
There are worries that plans for increased reliance on batteries – with a 50/50 split between combustion engine and electric power production – could backfire and leave cars unable to run flat out around a lap because they cannot produce enough energy.
While the FIA is confident that the situation is under control and it is premature to be worried about matters, Horner has said that F1 needs to be careful with what happens – as he suggests it may be better to reduce the reliance on electrical power.
"I think that perhaps where we need to pay urgent attention, before it's too late, is to look at the ratio between combustion power and electrical power," he said at the Austrian Grand Prix.
"[We need] to ensure that we're not creating a technical Frankenstein, which will require the chassis to compensate to such a degree with moveable aero and reduce the drag to such a level that the racing will be affected – and that there will be no tow effect and no DRS because effectively you're running like that at all points in time.
"Plus, with the characteristics of these engines, that the combustion engine just doesn't become a generator to recharge a battery."
Horner does not believe the matter is complicated to solve, as he suggests a simple five per cent shift in combustion/electric power could be enough to help. However, he says the matter is a critically important one to get right.
"We still have two and a half years, and I think if there is a slight redress it would then create potentially a better platform for the chassis," he said.
Source: Autosport