Christian Horner showed his rage against FIA decision following m

Christian Horner showed his rage against FIA decision following m….read more

Christian Horner has openly criticized the FIA’s stewards and the Formula 1 race director following a chaotic situation involving Red Bull Racing at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona. The Red Bull Team Principal expressed frustration over the governing body’s decision-making, particularly in the aftermath of an on-track clash between Max Verstappen and Mercedes driver George Russell.

The controversy stems from an incident early in the race when Verstappen and Russell engaged in a high-stakes battle for fourth place. During the duel, Verstappen went off-track at Turn 1 while trying to defend his position. Red Bull, reacting to what they believed might be a breach of racing rules, instructed Verstappen over team radio to relinquish the position and allow Russell to move ahead.

This directive from Red Bull came amid uncertainty about whether Verstappen had gained an unfair advantage by running off the circuit. However, a subsequent investigation and clarification from the FIA indicated that Verstappen was actually forced wide due to Russell’s aggressive overtaking maneuver. According to the stewards’ review, Russell was not in complete control of his car during the move, and his positioning contributed significantly to Verstappen’s deviation from the track.

The FIA’s final judgment was that Verstappen was not obligated to yield the position, as he had not gained it unfairly in the first place. This decision infuriated Horner, who criticized both the inconsistency and the timing of the FIA’s communication, suggesting it led to unnecessary confusion for the team and potentially compromised their race strategy. He implied that had the race director or stewards delivered a quicker and clearer judgment, Red Bull would not have instructed Verstappen to give up the place — a move that could have had performance and strategic implications.

Horner’s frustration also points to a broader issue in Formula 1 regarding inconsistent stewarding and delayed decision-making, which can have serious consequences in a sport where split-second decisions and marginal gains often determine outcomes. He argued that such indecisiveness affects not just race results but also undermines trust in the regulatory framework that governs the sport.

This incident has reignited debate within the F1 community about the need for clearer, faster communication from race control and more consistent application of racing rules. With tensions already high amid a tightly contested championship, Horner’s comments have added fuel to the fire, raising questions about how the FIA will address such controversies moving forward.