Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says he is struggling to understand why Max Verstappen was handed a grid drop for the Qatar Grand Prix.
The Dutchman received a five-place grid penalty after he was found guilty of not respecting double-waved yellow flags at the end of Q3.
A lone marshal was waving the flags across from Pierre Gasly’s stricken AlphaTauri car, however no other panel or information was communicated to Verstappen.
Horner says that the FIA deemed the track safe by not sending a yellow flag update to the drivers via the circuit panels or their steering wheel dashboard, and asserts race control must have power over the circuit and not leave decisions to the “rouge marshal”.
“We’re really struggling to understand it,” Horner told Sky F1. “It looks like a complete balls-up.
“The FIA have effectively said ‘play on, the circuit is safe, it’s clear’. Max was in the first sector, we had so much time to look at it.
“If indicated otherwise, we would of course, have informed him. Unfortunately there’s a yellow flag, he just didn’t see it.
“He saw the white one [panel], he saw the car, he even saw a green light on the right hand side. I think it’s just a rouge marshal that stuck a flag out.
“He’s not instructed to by the FIA, they’ve got to have control of the marshals. It’s as simple as that. That’s a crucial blow in the championship for us. We’re now starting P7 at a track you can’t overtake at. That is massive.”
Horner also questioned why Carlos Sainz escaped a penalty, accusing the Spaniard of only lifting off the throttle a handful of metres before the finish line.
“The other one I really don’t understand is Carlos Sainz,” Horner said. “It’s not exactly the same thing.
“[But] he hasn’t seen it and he’s driven straight past, gone past with his DRS open, fully planted and he’s lifted about 10 metres before the line and that’s OK.
“I think there needs to be some grown-ups making grown-up decisions. If somebody sticks a yellow flag out… it’s just frustrating and I think the race director should have control of the circuit. He’s the referee at the end of the day.”
Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas was also dealt a penalty, dropping three places from his qualifying positions for the start of the race.
Horner, Red Bull CWO (Chief Whining Officer) once again running out to Sky Tv (Red Bull cheer leaders) to try to influence events when it suits. I remember kids like him at school, pathetic. Same with Marko putting pressure on other drivers & teams to jump out the way to allow free movement up grid. 2 corners after message from Mardy Bum; Gasley pretends to run wide. It used to be Motor Racing unfortunately its now nothing more than a Tv show. Ecclestone certainly sold out the sport.
I totally agree with your view Redbull wanna buy a world championship then brag about how good they are they asked for the downforce rules to be changed claiming to much load in the tires causing Perelli to say a tire change was coming downforce went tired stayed benfit Redbull, they complained about Mercedes engine Mode results Mode changes results benifit Redbull they complained about Mercedes DAS Systems results DAS banned benefits Redbull they begged for an engine development freeze all engines hormoglated Honda said we leaving F1 said FIA allows them to illegally upgrade their engine results Redbull benefits that’s how Horner likes to play cheat and complain been doing it for years
Has everyone forgotten Red Bull running an illegal rear wing for 7 races to build up a points margin and the FIA Belgium farce that was put out just to maximise the points gap between Lewis Hamilton (yes I call him by his 1st name unlike Croft and Co) and Vestappen. Im old enough to be able to say like father like son. Red Bull would better present thsmselves by copying Lewis Hamiltons manners
Christian Horner is the type of manager you would love to have in you corner. If a decision goes his team’s way, they done nothing wrong. If a decision goes against his team, they have been unjustly treated. Mr. Horner will spout his position to who ever will listen. This is often is skySports, making for great TV but not necessarily great racing. Let’s hope that we can all enjoy the next two races without all the political posturing we have seen over the last few races. Yes let them race. Hopefully by the rules and without all the schoolboy squabbles.
Redbull like to cheat to beat you the moment they can win they accused you of cheating who can forget the shifting bargeboards and double diffuser days Mercedes has roasted their ass for 7 years and all that they do is complain complain because if they can’t cheat they can’t win point blank so they will have to take these links in the coming weeks and cry like the bitches they are
So let me get this straight, a stopped car on the track does not deserve to be covered by a yellow flag. Remember it had been instructed to stop, not cruise slowly as it had been doing. If that was any other event and no flag was displayed there would be heck to pay. The marshal is at fault, really? Then they wonder why they are having a very difficult time finding volunteers who will put up this nonsense.