Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner was unfazed by the chorus of boos that met him at the Formula 1 season launch event but was “disappointed” with the reception Max Verstappen met.
A packed London O2 Arena greeted all 10 F1 teams on Tuesday, February 18 for a first-of-its-kind season launch event, F1 75.
The English crowd was in a vociferous mood and during Red Bull’s presentation, Horner was met with consistent booing from the fans in attendance.
The FIA condemned the booing but speaking to select media including Motorsport Week on the first day of pre-season testing in Bahrain, Horner understood the reaction was part and parcel in the sporting realm.
“It was a big event,” Horner said.
“Obviously all the teams put a lot of effort into it, which was quite interesting to see.
“Of course, launching your car is a bit like launching your away strip with a home fan stadium.
“So fans will always back the teams and drivers that they want to and of course, we’ve been the protagonists over the years.”
Horner ‘disappointed’ by F1 75 fans booing Verstappen
Horner wasn’t the only one to be booed during the event, his driver and four-time champion Verstappen were met with boos from the crowd as he was introduced by F1 75 host Jack Whitehall.
While he was happy to take the brunt of the crowd, Horner felt his driver’s contribution to F1 warranted a better reaction.
“I guess the only disappointment I had with it was the reception for Max as a four-time world champion,” Horner said.
“That was disappointing, but passion in sport is always going to be there.
“If the launch would have been in Holland, no doubt the reception would have been somewhat different.”
Horner acknowledged that “The fans of course are the DNA of the sport,” before adding how F1 75 was born out of the growing interest in Grand Prix racing, where new demographics are engaging in the spectacle.
“I think the fandom has changed over the last few years as we’ve been welcoming more and more diverse fans to the sport,” he said.
“Sport is polarising and competitive sport across any premier sport in the world.
“Fans are passionate and they support their drivers, predominantly they support their teams.
“You can’t dictate that. We’re delighted to race in such a big audience.
“You’re going to get different reactions depending on where you race in the world. That’s the same in any elite sport.”
McLaren’s Zak Brown saw no issue with F1 75 fan reaction
Some of the F1 75 crowd’s biggest cheers were reserved for last year’s Constructors’ champions McLaren.
In 2024, McLaren and Red Bull enjoyed an intense rivalry on track, often on a par but the reactions to each team in London were almost polar opposites.
Commenting on the night, McLaren CEO Zak Brown said “The event was pretty awesome for the fans.
“I think we need to do more of those types of events, whether it’s pre-season, whether it’s more opportunities for our fans when we’re testing the tyres, year-end awards – it’s not currently an F1 awards, there’s the FIA, there’s Autosport, both great events that aren’t exclusively to F1.
“I’m a fan of fan events,” Brown added.
“I’ve seen other sports do that quite well. I think we’re making good progress there.
“I think I’ve never been to a sporting event that’s been quiet, where someone’s not yelling at a football player for missing a goal, or ice hockey, or baseball.
“I think sport brings out passionate fans, and they cheer, and they move.”
Brown argued that he has seen way worse abuse on social media than booing at a live fan event.
“I’ve certainly seen a lot worse on social media, where you go, wait, you’re kind of going a bit too far,” he said.
“Cheering and booing has been part of sport, every sport forever, and that’s what fans do.
“They yell at their TV when they’re watching with their buddies.
“Everyone has a favourite team, a favourite driver. Less favourites. I just think that’s sport.
“I didn’t think there was anything visceral or violent.
“You can definitely see other sports that have had riots break out, but it was far from that.
“I just think it was sports and fans doing what fans do, and they kind of voice their opinion on who they’re cheering for or not.”
READ MORE – FIA condemns booing towards Max Verstappen & Christian Horner at F1 75
