Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner has shut down former Formula 1 driver Nico Rosberg’s comments on Max Verstappen following the Spanish Grand Prix.
The Dutchman was handed a 10-second penalty for a collision with Mercedes’ George Russell during the final laps of the race. Red Bull instructed Verstappen to let Russell pass to avoid a penalty for a previous collision. Verstappen, who was quick to share his frustration over the team radio, looked like he was moving over for the British driver; however, as Russell went to overtake, the pair made contact.
Rosberg, who was commentating alongside David Croft for the Sky Sports F1 broadcast, felt that the 10-second penalty was “very lenient.” He stated:
“The first one was George’s fault because he went in too hot, oversteered out and tapped Max who then had to use the escape road. That’s not the way to do the pass.
“Red Bull messed up by saying let George pass. That really annoyed Max because he knows George rammed him off.
“In Max’s eyes he’s like 100 per cent in the right. ‘Why are you telling me to do this, watch this I will show you what he did’, slowed down and rammed into him which is even worse. To slow down and ram into another driver is pretty bad.”
The 2016 world champion continued:
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images via Getty Images
“That’s a very lenient one from my point of view. Remember Sebastian Vettel against Lewis Hamilton in Baku 2017.”
He added:
“It looked like a very intentional retaliation. Wait for the opponent, go ramming into him, just like you felt the other guy rammed into you at Turn One.
“That’s something which is extremely unacceptable and I think the rules would be a black flag yes. If you wait for your opponent to bang into him, that’s a black flag.”
While speaking to Motorsport.com and other media, Horner kept his comments on Rosberg’s remarks short and to the point. He said:
“Nico’s quite sensational in the way he commentates, so we’ll leave it there.”
Verstappen also acknowledged the comments, stating: “Yeah, that’s his opinion; everyone can have his opinion.”
