Christian Horner says Formula One owes its drivers and fans simpler rules as controversy continues to linger over the final laps of the Mexican Grand Prix.
Ahead of this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix, Ferrari has asked the FIA to review the post-race penalty handed to Sebastian Vettel in Mexico for moving under braking while defending his position from Daniel Ricciardo. Red Bull's Max Verstappen also incurred a penalty for going off track while defending third from Vettel in the closing stages, though Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg avoided punishment for missing the Turn 2 apex on the opening lap.
The controversy from the race prompted FIA race director Charlie Whiting to join Thursday's driver press conference and explain various incidents with the use of TV footage. Horner believes the current rule book needs to be watered down for the good of the spectacle.
"I think we're over regulated in many respects," Horner said. "The drivers almost need to take a rule book with them in the car on Sunday, and consult it before they either defend or make an overtaking manoeuvre these days. There's too much subjectivity and interpretation of different events.
"So Lewis Hamilton going straight on at the first turn last weekend, comes out half a kilometre up the road, is that an advantage or a disadvantage compared to Max going off and coming back at the same position he came off and with dirty tyres later in the race?
"It's very difficult for the drivers and the teams, and one can only think the viewers, as to what's permitted and what isn't. Like all things in life, keep it simple, keep it straightforward. I would say less rules, but more clarity in terms of what the rules of engagement are.
"Nobody wants to see dangerous driving but let the drivers race, let them go wheel to wheel. Everybody is talking about the last five or six laps in Mexico because, let's face it, the rest of the race was pretty boring. The last ten laps were fantastic. Of course there's been a whole bunch of discussion about it since then and that's what Formula One needs to be."
Horner believes part of the problem is that F1 circuits have been neutered so severely that stewards are having to make too many decisions when drivers make mistakes.
"Let's avoid the situation where drivers can cut corners and gain an advantage, put gravel trap there, put something to slow the drivers down. Then that takes the subjectivity away from the stewards having to interpret, 'is that result different to that one, is that incident different to that?'
"We can see so many examples of that I think for the teams, the drivers, and most importantly the fans, let's come up with something that's straightforward and simple that's easy to understand and interpret."