“More based on hysterics from George Russell”: Christian Horner dissects Max Verstappen’s penalty on Saturday in Qatar
Christian Horner has attributed Max Verstappen’s penalty in Qatar GP qualifying to George Russell’s actions. Speaking after the race, the Red Bull Racing CEO suggested that the penalty only fueled Verstappen’s determination to outperform the Mercedes driver in the race.
Verstappen initially qualified on pole but received a one-place grid penalty for driving unnecessarily slowly on a cool-down lap. The incident sparked debate, with Fernando Alonso also pointing out that Russell was driving slowly during the same lap. Ultimately, the penalty promoted Russell to the pole position and led to tensions between the two drivers.
Horner implied that Russell and Mercedes capitalized on the incident, pushing for a penalty against Verstappen. He claimed that Russell’s arguments with the stewards were instrumental in securing the decision. Despite Verstappen’s dissatisfaction with the outcome, Horner noted that the four-time world champion used the setback as motivation. Verstappen delivered a commanding performance to claim his ninth victory of the season, while Russell, starting from pole, finished fourth.
Asked by Sportskeeda if it was one of the penalties that made Max Verstappen say he had the wrong passport, Horner replied:
“No look, I think [Saturday's] penalty was more based on hysterics from George, who has been quite hysterical this weekend. But that's unfortunately, I think there was a little bit of gamesmanship going on in that.”
Further explaining the decision, he added:
“Let's just say he wasn't enamoured with the decision. It was a very strange decision because obviously the circumstances of yesterday, both cars were on slow laps. And I did feel that George Mercedes made a big meal out of it and it was But he converted the dirtiest side of the grid into one of his best starts of the season. Wherever George was going to break, he was going to break later and converted that good position into the lead by the end of turn 1.”
Christian Horner argues George Russell was quicker than Max Verstappen on a cool-down lap
Christian Horner suggested that George Russell could share the blame for driving too quickly on a cool-down lap, which played a role in the penalty handed to Max Verstappen. The Red Bull Racing CEO acknowledged that Verstappen was disappointed with the stewards’ decision but felt the setback fueled his determination to outperform the Mercedes driver. Horner emphasized that while the situation was frustrating for the four-time world champion, it ultimately motivated Verstappen to deliver a commanding performance and secure victory in the race.
Asked if he was worried that Max Verstappen would go over the edge to prove a point to George Russell, Horner said:
“I think he was disappointed with it. I mean, if you look at it objectively, one could argue that perhaps George was driving a little too quickly on a slow lap with two slow cars ahead of him, so maybe he was driving recklessly. So, you know, it was frustrating to get that -- that penalty. But, yeah, he was already motivated to win this race and I think it only added to his enthusiasm to get off the line well.”
Max Verstappen secured his ninth race win of the season at the Qatar GP, extending his championship lead over Lando Norris to 80 points. Meanwhile, Red Bull Racing sits third in the constructors’ championship with 581 points and is out of title contention. The battle for the constructors’ championship will come down to the final race at the Abu Dhabi GP.
McLaren currently leads Ferrari by a slim margin of 21 points, setting the stage for a historic showdown at Yas Marina. McLaren last claimed the constructors’ title in 1998, while Ferrari’s most recent triumph was in 2008. Regardless of the outcome, the season finale promises to deliver a momentous shift in the sport’s competitive landscape.