Red Bull team principal Christian Horner doesn’t believe Sebastian Vettel’s decision to ignore team orders in Malaysia has undermined his leadership.
The Briton is also adamant that the 25-year-old knows and understands his place within the team, despite what people outside may think.
“I don’t think Seb for a moment thinks he runs the team. He knows we employ him – and he knows why we employ him.
“In that race he didn’t do as I asked,” said Horner on Friday. “Was I happy? No. Did he apologise? Yes. Has he learned? Yes. Would he do it again? He explained yesterday – but there is history between those two drivers.
“It is not something new, it has been there for four/five years. They are one of the most successful partnerships in F1 history.
“Is my leadership undermined? I don’t think so.
“I have led the team from the time Red Bull entered to the sport to those three titles, there have been lumps and bumps along the way, but they drive the team forward.”
Horner is now looking to move on from the events in Malaysia.
“What has happened has happened, we cannot change it, we cannot go back,” he added. “It is question of looking forward, at this event, and the next 16 events.”
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