Red Bull principal Christian Horner is concerned that the introduction of three new teams in Formula One this season will prove to be a bad move.

HRT, Lotus and Virgin Racing will all be on the starting grid when the 2010 season starts in Bahrain this weekend, but their cars are all expected to be significantly slower than the established teams.

HRT's preparations for the new season have been dogged by financial worries and their car has yet to be driven on a track, while Lotus and Virgin have been lapping at approximately four seconds a lap slower than the other teams during testing.

Horner said: "The danger is the time difference is going to be so big and the difference in the closing speeds is massive.

"You might start a lap eight seconds behind somebody and think you're okay. But you'll catch these guys before the end of the lap, and then, will they be looking in their mirrors?

"The potential for them to cause an incident is reasonably high. Teams are going to have to work hard to get track position so their drivers don't run up to the back of HRT, Virgin and Lotus at the end of a flying lap."

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