Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has questioned the need to broadcast certain radio messages after a Max Verstappen radio rant was televised during the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Verstappen was penalised with a 10-second time penalty for hitting McLaren’s Oscar Piastri at Turn 1 of the Yas Marina Circuit as the Abu Dhabi GP got underway.
After Verstappen took his penalty, the Dutchman’s radio message was broadcast, whereby he blasted the stewards, saying: “Can we ask for 20 seconds? Stupid idiots.”
Horner was asked if he shared the same view of the stewards and he told select media including Motorsport Week: “I’m sure in any sport that there will always be frustration from players or sports people in the heat of the moment when you’re delivered a message about a penalty like that.
“In other sports, if footballers had microphones on, I’m sure there’d be a few choice words as well.”
F1 Radio broadcasts can be ‘unfair,’ says Horner
Horner was then asked if his stance had changed since 2016 when he criticised former employee Sebastian Vettel for slamming the stewards.
Eight years ago, Horner said, “In any sport, what you can’t do is give abuse to the referee.”
What’s changed since?
“Circumstances change, but drivers don’t, and sometimes I do feel that it’s very unfair,” Horner explained.
“And we hear all drivers rant and rave, you know, we hear team principals rant and rave occasionally as well, that it is a little unfair sometimes.
“I mean, one of the benefits of this is the access that is given.
“You would never find a camera or microphone in a football or a rugby changing room or team room or a team talk.
“Microphones in their face before they get on a grid, when they get out of a car; it’s unique, and sometimes not every message is necessarily needed to be broadcast.”
This is a view shared by Fernando Alonso, who took offence at the way he’s being portrayed through F1 broadcasts.
“Worst car ever, and worst traffic preparation ever,” was a frustrated radio message made by the Spaniard during practice. “Next time I will do the out-lap myself.”
Alonso criticised Formula One Management (FOM) for televising this message, rather than focusing on positive communication.
“I had some positive things [to say] as well but as I said, FOM, they have to sell that I’m the grumpy guy,” he said. “They tried for many years and they will not succeed.”
Horner agrees Verstappen/Piastri Abu Dhabi clash was ‘unfortunate’
Verstappen made sure to apologise to Piastri after his clash with the Australian and called it “unfortunate.”
Horner held a similar view of the scuffle.
“He saw a gap,” Horner began. “He went through. I don’t think Oscar saw him, and that gap closed down.
“He tried to try to get as high up the kerb as he could, but contact, unfortunately, was inevitable.”
READ MORE – Max Verstappen slams ‘idiot’ stewards over F1 Abu Dhabi GP penalty
