Red Bull Racing CEO and Team Principal Christian Horner has vehemently disagreed with the five-second penalty awarded to Max Verstappen in Jeddah.
The penalty awarded to Max Verstappen during the Saudi Arabian GP after his first corner clash with Oscar Piastri sparked debate up and down the paddock over its fairness. Costing the Dutchman a win, the reigning world champion refused to address the topic in Parc Ferme and the post-race press conference.
In a written media session after the Saudi Arabian GP, Christian Horner criticised the penalty and absolved Verstappen of wrongdoing.
“I thought it was very harsh. We didn’t concede the position because we didn’t believe that he’d done anything wrong. You can quite clearly see at the apex of the corner, we believe that Max is clearly ahead.
“The rules of engagement they discussed previously and it was a very harsh decision. If we had given it up, the problem is you then obviously run in the dirty air as well. We could have dropped back behind.”
Saudi Arabian GP outcome ‘a shame’ for Red Bull and Max Verstappen
Christian Horner then revealed why Max Verstappen did not concede position to Oscar Piastri in the opening laps prior to the penalty.
“The problem is you then are at risk with George. The best thing to do was to at that point, we got the penalty, get your head down and keep going. I think what was a great shame today was that you can see our face versus certainly the McLarens and all other cars in that first stint on the medium.
“We were in good shape. We had to serve the five-second penalty. Thereafter, on the same basic stint as Oscar, he finished 2.6 seconds behind.
“Without that five-second penalty today, it would have been a win. There’s always going to be a difference of opinion over a very marginal decision like that.“
When asked about precedent for penalties, Horner questioned why the FIA awarded five seconds instead of ten from previous incidents.
“When you look at that, I can’t see how they got to that conclusion. They’ve both gone in at the same speed. Oscar’s run deep into the corner.
“Max can’t just disappear at this point in time. Perhaps these rules need a re-look. I don’t know what happened to let them race on the first lap. That just (2:26) seems to have been a bad thing.”
Christian Horner believes Max Verstappen ‘hadn’t really done anything wrong’
Horner denied that Max Verstappen can sometimes fall out of favour with the stewards given past incidents, believing every event is looked at individually.
“Everything has to be objectively looked at in isolation and that’s a really marginal call. I think the stewards, we spoke to them after the race, they think it was a slam dunk.
“The problem is if we’re to protest it, then they’re going to most likely hold their line. We’ll ask them to have a look at the on-board footage that wasn’t available at the time. I think that’s what it is.”
He confirmed it was ‘ really unlikely’ Red Bull would seek a right of review, but maintained his stance that Max Verstappen was innocent.
“We felt we hadn’t really done anything wrong. First corner, racing incident, two cars going, I don’t know where he’s supposed to go. At this point he can’t just vanish.
” I think Oscar’s had a good start, Max has had an average start, but as per their thing, front wheel ahead has to be at least in line with the mirror.”
