Horner hails ‘gracious’ Verstappen reaction to Australia F1 retirement

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has hailed Max Verstappen’s “gracious” reaction to his premature retirement from the 2024 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.

Verstappen had qualified in pole position but endured a stuck rear right brake from the outset, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz passing him as smoke billowed from his car.

The Dutchman would limp home into the pits before Red Bull retired his RB20 car on the fourth lap, marking his first retirement from a race since 2022 at Albert Park.

Verstappen had been aiming to equal his record of 10 consecutive victories, but Red Bull’s demise enabled Ferrari to score a 1-2 with Sainz leading Charles Leclerc.

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Despite his championship lead being slashed, Horner has expressed that he was impressed with Verstappen’s response to his race being curtailed outside his control.

“It was very good he was very gracious with the team as well,” Horner said.

“I mean as he pointed out to me it was Australia 2022 that he last had a DNF in a car due to mechanical failure so that’s an impressive record, but [it] doesn’t give excuses for today and it’s something that we’ll learn from. But it shows how measured and you win as a team you lose as a team together.”

Verstappen voiced the remark “f**king stupid” over the team radio when Red Bull opted to complete a pit stop while his car was stationed in the pit box and on fire.

However, Horner has downplayed the comment, stating: “I’d say that a natural reaction is only tough for a race.

“But he was very gracious in the garage, he was very supportive of the team and came over to the pit wall and was fine about it.

“I think that obviously we were trying to understand when he came into the pit lane what was it, was it a race retiring incident which clearly as soon as we got the wheel off it was clear that there was no rear, what we call the cake tin that covers the rear brake. Then it is a matter of just making sure you get the fire.”

The Australian GP marked the second time in the last 21 races that Verstappen has not triumphed, with Sainz also on hand to prevail in Singapore last September.

On that occasion, Verstappen rebounded with a crushing show of dominance at Suzuka, which happens to be the next venue on the calendar due to a revised date.

Asked if he was anticipating a similar reaction from the reigning World Champion, Horner responded: “I think Max will arrive in Japan sufficiently well-charged.”

Red Bull had elected to replace Verstappen’s engine ahead of qualifying in Melbourne after he had driven over a kerb and damaged his car in the first practice hour.

“We changed as a precaution; [he] had a big hit on Friday so we just wanted to make we wanted to avoid a DNF,” Horner clarified, adding the unit can be used again.