Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has been handed an official warning by the FIA over a comment made to broadcasters prior to the Qatar Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen was handed a five-place grid penalty ahead of the race at Losail after failing to adhere to a double waved yellow flag during qualifying.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 prior to the race Horner criticised a “rogue marshal” and it was that comment that attracted the attention of the FIA, regarding Article 12 of the International Sporting Code.
The Article and its appendices relate to upholding the integrity of the FIA and its officials.
![Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri [McLaren] celebrate their 1-2 finish at the 2025 F1 Austrian GP](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lando-Norris-Oscar-Piastri-McLaren-F1-2025-1-120x86.webp)
Horner explained during the hearing post-race that “his reaction was one that was made under the pressure of competition following the penalty imposed on Verstappen.”
Stewards explained that the marshal concerned “was doing his job in precisely the manner prescribed in the ISC.”
Horner offered an apology to the marshal concerned and outlined that he will explain to the media that he meant no offence with his comment.
Horner also offered to participate in the FIA’s International Stewards Programme in February 2022 and the stewards unreservedly accepted the offer.
![Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri [McLaren] celebrate their 1-2 finish at the 2025 F1 Austrian GP](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lando-Norris-Oscar-Piastri-McLaren-F1-2025-1-350x250.webp)
![Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri [McLaren] celebrate their 1-2 finish at the 2025 F1 Austrian GP](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lando-Norris-Oscar-Piastri-McLaren-F1-2025-1-360x180.webp)
I hate to be the pedant who points this out but spell checking software won’t highlight it as an error. The word you’re looking for is rogue. Rouge is the French for red but it will be accepted by an English spellchecker because rouge is also a term for a specific type of make up.
Unless the marshal was indeed red. In which case I apologise and please disregard this post.
If Whiney Spice is going to marshal, I suggest that starts at Club level before advancing to an FIA level.
Maybe Snetterton in January or February will show him what it is like out there!
And….I hope he’d be a better marshal than he was race driver…..
conflict of interest surely. we have all seen today included what a nasty twisted whining individual he is. he meant every word in an attempt to bully the stewards into not penalising crashappen. theres video proof the flags yes 2 of them were waved because gasly was still in his car on the straight.
Maybe I should have said “volunteer” rather than “marshal” – sorry!
So what are the consequences should Horner do something like this again?