In the aftermath of the Mexican Grand Prix, Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, defended Max Verstappen, who received two 10-second penalties after collisions with Lando Norris during the race. The incidents occurred as Verstappen and Norris battled for position behind Carlos Sainz. In the first clash at Turn 4, Verstappen pushed Norris off track as they fought for the apex, leading the stewards to penalize Verstappen. Shortly after, Verstappen attempted another maneuver at Turn 7, again forcing both drivers off the track and regaining second place. The stewards ruled he gained an advantage illegally, adding another penalty, which dropped Verstappen’s final race standings to sixth, while Norris finished in second.
Horner brought GPS data to his media session to support his claim that Norris had taken an unusually aggressive approach by braking significantly later than usual into Turn 4. According to Horner, Norris’s braking data showed he was 15 km/h faster than on any previous lap, an approach Horner argued would likely prevent Norris from making the corner. He emphasized that Verstappen’s line was not unreasonable, but the stewards’ interpretations of apex rules might have overly favored the outside driver’s position. Horner questioned the consistency of penalty applications, noting the role of increased fuel load in affecting Norris’s braking capacity at that stage of the race.
The Red Bull team principal raised concerns about the stewards’ application of rules, particularly around the principle of giving outside drivers room based solely on nose position at the apex. Horner argued that Norris’s late braking strategy—while bold—might exploit the current regulations that seemingly benefit drivers placing themselves on the outside to claim corner space. He warned that this could distort traditional racing rules where drivers on the inside line typically have priority to dictate the corner. According to Horner, the penalty against Verstappen ignored this established racing principle, creating potential confusion for future races.
Horner also addressed the broader implications for driver safety and consistency in race adjudication. He noted that overcomplicating overtaking regulations could lead to dangerous situations where drivers increasingly try risky moves just to get their noses ahead. He emphasized the importance of clarifying and possibly simplifying overtaking guidelines to avoid confusion, particularly as F1 enters the final stretch of the season. While he dismissed concerns of severe accidents, he urged a return to traditional principles, where the inside line advantage remains paramount to maintain fair and safe racing standards.
Despite his strong stance, Horner confirmed that Red Bull would not request a review of Verstappen’s penalties, acknowledging that such requests, as seen with McLaren’s previous appeal, rarely meet the criteria for success. Instead, he emphasized the need for clearer guidelines that prevent frequent recourse to detailed rulebooks during races. For Horner, excessive regulation could erode the racing instincts drivers develop over the years. He concluded by advocating for rules that respect these instincts without encouraging drivers to game the system by positioning themselves strategically at the apex without realistic chances of completing the corner safely.
