Horner: Verstappen was 'very keen' Norris was penalised in Qatar
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Christian Horner has revealed that Max Verstappen was extremely keen to snitch on Lando Norris at the Qatar Grand Prix. The McLaren driver was fighting for the race victory but ignored a double yellow flag on the main straight of the Lusail International Circuit. After Max Verstappen took victory, Red Bull team boss Horner was asked about the situation that had just unfolded on track. Horner revealed that Max Verstappen kept calling for Lando Norris to be penalised over the radio.
"We have the GPS data live, so we can see the speed compare. When you look at the speed profile comparison of Lando versus Max, you can see DRS wide open. He was still absolutely flat out, and there was a double waved yellow there. With Max having spent a little bit of intimate time with the stewards on Saturday, he was very keen that it was looked at thoroughly. He kept reminding us, asking if it had been looked at. That then gets passed by the Sporting Director to the Race Director," Horner explained to GPblog and others.
Verstappen had been penalised on Saturday after it was deemed that he drove too slowly whilst he wasn't on a flying lap. In doing so, George Russell, who was also on a slow lap, nearly ran into the Dutchman. This meant that he received a one-place grid penalty and was demoted from pole position for Sunday's race. Therefore, the now 63-time Grand Prix winner was very keen for Lando Norris to be penalised.
Horner on Verstappen's snitching: 'It's the driver's job!'
Formula 1 drivers regularly snitch on each other on the radio for their own benefit. It brings attention to the situation, which may land their competitor a penalty if they've done something wrong. Horner believes that this is part of Formula 1, as he explained in the paddock. "It’s part of the job of being a driver. The rule that nearly had us over today was the safety car. The message came, safety car in this lap, but the light stayed on the safety car," he said.
The Brit also ran through the moment where Verstappen was almost overtaken by Lando Norris on the race restart after a light error with the safety car. "You're then supposed to keep a distance to the back of the car. He couldn't slow the pack up because he was unsure what the safety car was going to do. He was following the instructions from the safety car, and then it came into the pits, which then compromised him, but he was still fortunate to stay ahead of Lando down at turn one." The Red Bull team boss concluded.
This article was written in collaboration with Esteban den Toom.
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