Christian Horner has admitted he doesn’t want every radio exchange broadcast on the television during Grands Prix as he feels it’s “unfair” on drivers. The Red Bull chief called for the change as he leapt to the defence of Max Verstappen after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Verstappen was involved in a collision with McLaren star Oscar Piastri at the first corner of the opening lap and was subsequently hit with a 10-second time penalty and two penalty points on his Super Licence.
The Dutchman was then heard calling the stewards “stupid idiots” over his team radio.
“I’m sure in any sport, there will always be frustration from players or sports people in the heat of the moment when you are delivered a message about a penalty like that. If footballers had a microphone on, then I am sure there’d be a few choice words as well,” Horner explained after the race.
“Well, look, I mean, circumstances change, but drivers don’t and sometimes I do feel that it is very unfair.
“We hear all drivers rant and rave, we hear team principals rant and rave occasionally too, and it is a little unfair sometimes.
“One of the benefits of this sport is the access given, you would never find a camera or microphone in a football or rugby changing room or a team room or team talk. Microphones in their faces before they get on the grid or when they get out of the car.
“It is unique and sometimes not every message is necessarily needed to be broadcast.”
Verstappen has come under fire in the past for his temperament over the Red Bull team radio. In July, the 27-year-old openly blasted his team’s race strategy after dropping from third to fifth in the latter stages of the Hungarian Grand Prix as he exclaimed: “It’s quite impressive how we let ourselves get undercut. It’s completely f***ed my race.”
When his engineer Gianpiero Lambiase questioned the way Verstappen was treating his tyres, the four-time world champion hissed: “No, mate, don’t give me that s*** now. You guys gave me this s*** strategy, okay? I’m trying to rescue what’s left. F***.”
And after the driver’s comment about the stewards on Sunday, Martin Brundle insisted Verstappen was not being “smart” with his choice of words.
“After he received a 10-second penalty, angry Max in the car called the stewards ‘stupid idiots’ which is not fair or smart of him at all, but calmer Max after the race went to apologise to Oscar and McLaren,” the 65-year-old wrote in a Sky Sports blog.