Photo: Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
Christian Horner, the Team Principal of Red Bull, has voiced his concerns regarding the double penalty imposed on Max Verstappen during the Mexico Grand Prix. He advocates for clearer and simpler racing rules to ensure fair competition and uphold the core principles of motorsport.
Christian Horner, Red Bull Team Principal, has spoken about the double penalty that severely impacted Max Verstappen’s race in Mexico, urging for simpler rules that uphold the principles of motor racing.
During an early incident with Lando Norris, Verstappen aggressively defended his position, pushing Norris off the track at Turn 4, where the British driver re-entered ahead. Determined to regain his position, Verstappen moved down the inside at Turn 8, bringing Norris wide with him and allowing Charles Leclerc to overtake both, leaving Verstappen in third and Norris in fourth.
Verstappen was almost immediately given two 10-second penalties, one for pushing Norris off the track and another for gaining a lasting advantage by leaving the track himself. Horner called these penalties harsh, and after the race, he presented extensive telemetry and GPS data in a media briefing, arguing that Norris would have missed the Turn 4 corner regardless.
“There’s great racing happening, and it’s crucial the rules of engagement remain fair rather than favoring the outside line,” Horner commented. “Historically, the outside has always been the riskier position, but now it seems to be an advantage. All you need is to have your nose slightly ahead at the turn-in point, regardless of whether you’re capable of making the corner. We’re in danger of turning the overtaking rules upside down, where drivers just aim to get their nose ahead at the apex to claim room on the exit.”
Horner criticized this approach, pointing out that at every karting track worldwide, having the inside line means you are controlling the corner. Horner emphasized the need to return to basics, where the driver on the outside doesn’t have priority. The penalties effectively ended Verstappen’s chances of winning the race. Norris is now 47 points behind in the standings, but Red Bull’s situation in the Constructors’ Championship is even more concerning, with the team now in P3.
In such a closely contested season, Horner stressed the importance of clarity in the rules, noting that drivers like Sergio Perez and Liam Lawson hadn’t been penalized for similar incidents. “It’s something that needs to be tidied up, so everyone is clear on what’s allowed between now and the season’s end. Otherwise, we’ll be dealing with chaos in the upcoming races,” he explained. “No one wants to consult a rule book on every move. These drivers have grown up racing and know the basics, so it’s important we don’t overregulate to the point that it promotes behavior outside the spirit of racing.”
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