{"id":293473,"date":"2023-09-22T08:49:45","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T08:49:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=293473"},"modified":"2023-09-22T08:49:45","modified_gmt":"2023-09-22T08:49:45","slug":"christian-horner-addresses-f1-teams-suspicions-after-verstappen-investigation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/racing\/f1\/christian-horner-addresses-f1-teams-suspicions-after-verstappen-investigation\/","title":{"rendered":"Christian Horner addresses F1 teams’ ‘suspicions’ after Verstappen investigation"},"content":{"rendered":"
Red Bull chief principal Christian Horner has denied claims that his team pressured AlphaTauri into not sending a representative to Max Versappen\u2019s hearing at the Singapore Grand Prix. The Dutchman was reprimanded for impeding Yuki Tsunoda in qualifying, with many believing that he should have been handed a grid penalty.<\/p>\n
Verstappen lost his unbeaten record at Marina Bay, finishing fifth during an incredibly underwhelming weekend for Red Bull. Ferrari\u2019s Carlos Sainz came home in front on the day, with Lando Norris being forced to settle for second and Lewis Hamilton completing the podium.<\/p>\n
Given how Verstappen performed during qualifying, his defeat on Sunday did not come as a surprise. He was called to the stewards after qualifying to discuss three separate incidents of alleged blocking \u2013 one of which was for coming in the pit lane.<\/p>\n
Verstappen received two formal reprimands, his first of the season, and Red Bull were also handed a \u00a34,300 fine for failing to communicate effectively with their driver prior to him blocking Tsunoda. Given the accumulated offences, many felt that Verstappen should have been handed a grid penalty for his conduct – and questions have since been raised as to why AlphaTauri failed to represent themselves in the stewards.<\/p>\n
Click here to join our WhatsApp community to be the first to receive breaking and exclusive F1 news.<\/strong><\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> Max Verstappen ‘impressed’ by rivals but makes clear demand of Red Bull in Japan[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n With ‘suspicions’ reportedly growing of Red Bull pressuring the team into not attending, Horner insisted that Red Bull had not been in contact with AlphaTauri. Asked by Sky Sports Racing if there was pressure, Horner explained: \u201cAbsolutely none at all. It\u2019s purely AlphaTauri\u2019s choice, I don\u2019t think a team representative was requested and we only found out there wasn\u2019t going to be one actually in the meeting.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that the stewards\u2019 decisions are the stewards\u2019 decisions, they listen to the facts, they listen to the drivers, the circumstances surrounding that. They obviously chose a penalty to penalise the team for not giving Max the necessary information so there\u2019s always going to be those debates over steward consistency, it\u2019s a tough job for them, we\u2019ve seen it so many times. There was certainly no pressure on our side and we weren\u2019t sure what to expect.\u201d<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Heading into the Japanese Grand Prix, the incidents are still fresh in the minds of many and Norris is the latest driver to speak out and call for the FIA to be firmer with their punishments going forward.<\/p>\n The McClaren star said: \u201cI don’t want to say too much as I’ll just create controversy. I think the blocking one on track was the one that should have been a penalty. It should just be harsher penalties for blocking people because so many people do it. It ruins your lap, it ruins your qualifying. It put Yuki out in qualifying. He was P1 in Q1 and probably would have been P1 in Q3\u2026all the way!\u201d<\/p>\n