Red Bull team principal Christian Horner spoke in his print media session following the F1 Spanish GP, sharing his views on the clash between Max Verstappen and George Russell, which resulted in a 10-second time penalty for the Dutch driver and three penalty points.
Verstappen had been on course for a solid podium when a late safety car for the stranded Mercedes of Antonelli changed the outcome of the Spanish GP in dramatic fashion.
The reigning champion, who had been on an aggressive but effective 3-stopper, dove into the pits and, for lack of other options. was sent out on a fresh set of hards.
The tyre choice put the reigning Champion in a compromising position at the restart of the Spanish GP.
Horner recounts the incident
Talking to the media following the Spanish GP, Horner described the events that ultimately led to the clash between Verstappen and Russell after the restart.
“Max had a snap at the restart.
“Charles [Leclerc] got alongside him.
“It looked like he’d pulled left on him, which is what they’re up in front of the stewards now.
“Then George obviously tried to capitalize on that into Turn 1, and it was very, very marginal.
“Now, on recent experience and looking at recent incidents, obviously it’s subjective.
“You’ve asked for guidance from the FIA, from the referee.
“Essentially, there’s nothing come back.
“You can see that it’s been reported.
“It’s going to the stewards. It looked, for all intents and purposes, that it was going to be a penalty.
“Therefore, the instruction was given to Max to give that place back, which he was obviously upset about and annoyed about because he felt that, one, he’d been left no space, and two, that George hadn’t been fully in control.
“So after, obviously, a conversation with his engineer, he elected to give the space back at Turn 5.
“There was contact between the two cars.
“I haven’t had a chance to speak to Max from his side, but obviously the stewards deem that he caused a collision and got 10 seconds and some penalty points, unfortunately.
“Which obviously was very frustrating because it leaves us with one point out of the afternoon, what should have been an easy podium.”
Verstappen’s frustration
Following the events in the closing stages of the Spanish GP, questions were raised about whether Verstappen had let his frustrations get the best of him.
Horner didn’t deny that his driver was frustrated following the collisions with both Leclerc and Russell.
However, he emphasized that he had not had a chance to speak to Verstappen about the events that unfolded in the closing stages of the Spanish GP and that they would deal with the matter internally.
“I think it’s clear that you could hear that he was frustrated.
“He didn’t agree, you can hear, with both Charles [Leclerc] and George [Russell].
“I haven’t had a chance to speak to him because he’s had to speak to you guys, and now he’s up in the stewards talking about the Charles incident.”
“It is something that we’ll discuss internally and look at.”
The culmination of events led to Verstappen’s frustration
Asked about whether the way Red Bull communicated with Verstappen during the final laps of the Spanish GP contributed to the frustration, Horner cheekily responded:
“I don’t know how else you can… You can’t send him an email.”
Horner then went on to explain that the culmination of incidents in the last laps of the Spanish GP contributed to Verstappen’s frustration.
He also noted that recent decisions by the Stewards led Red Bull to ask Verstappen to give position to Russell after their first collision in Turn 1.
“Look, he was obviously upset because, first of all, he’s had Leclerc take a swipe at him on the straight.
“Then he’s got dive-bombed at one [Turn1] by George [Russell].
“The way that these regulations are now, it’s all about where that front axle is, and the drivers know the rules, and they’re the rules that they’re playing to.
“Now, the argument is, was George under control at that point in time?
“Would he have made the corner?
“Now, we’ve seen so many occasions this year where penalties have been given.
“We’ve seen it been noted.
“It’s seen it gone to the stewards.
“The next thing is you’re expecting to get a penalty.
“So that’s why it was, OK, do you know what?
“We’re going to have to give this place up.”
Verstappen’s move deliberate?
After the Spanish GP, it was suggested by former driver and 2016 F1 champion Nico Rosberg that Verstappen’s actions were deliberate.
Rosberg, referring to the collision between Verstappen and Russell in Turn 5, suggested that Verstappen should have been disqualified.
Horner dismissed the notion, noting that the German was “quite sensational” in his Spanish GP commentary.
“Nico [Rosberg] is quite sensational in the way he commentates.
“So, you know, I’ll leave it there.”
Rosberg wasn’t the only one to suggest that Verstappen’s move had been deliberate, as George Russell shared similar views.
Horner expressed that Verstappen clearly displayed frustration, but he did not comment on whether his driver acted intentionally.
“I haven’t had a chance to speak to Max [Verstappen].
“So, you know, obviously, you could hear how frustrated he was.
“He felt that he’d been barged out of the way at turn one.
“So, you know, there was a lot of frustration that was in the car.
“Even the stewards argue about that.”
Verstappen has since issued a public statement apologising for his Turn 5 move on Russell during the Spanish GP.
