Red Bull’s Horner says F1 racing rules are ‘crystal clear’

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says the rules that Formula 1 drivers have to adhere to when racing are “crystal clear” and there was no ambiguity in the battle between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris at the United States Grand Prix.

Verstappen overtook Norris at Turn 1 at the start of the race but appeared to completely leave the track on the corner exit after forcing the McLaren wide, before he again left the track defending the inside late on at Turn 12. On the second occasion, Norris went wide and rejoined ahead of Verstappen, picking up a five-second time penalty that Horner says was the obvious outcome.

“First of all, the racing between the two of them, it was competitive and great to watch and obviously all the drivers know acutely what the rules are,” Horner said. “They discuss these issues in particular corners in the briefings with the various stewards and driver stewards and race director.

“The pass was made off-track. We've been on the receiving end of that. In fact, here [Circuit of The Americas], I think, against Kimi [Raikkonen] in 2018. For us, it was crystal clear that the pass had been made off the track, so he should have given the place back. He chose not to, therefore there was a penalty. So for us, it was very much a black-and-white scenario.

“I think it's very difficult for the stewards, and every incident is different so you have to look at every incident individually. When you're on the receiving end of it, it's not nice. As I say, we've been on the receiving end of it numerous times, not just at this track, but at other tracks. So, they all know what's at stake.

“What I perhaps didn't understand was it was clear there was going to be a penalty -- or it looked pretty clear there was going to be a penalty -- with the car advantage and tire advantage that McLaren had at that point of the race, it looked like he went to give the place back up at Turn 1, but there was some confusion there. If he'd have given the place back immediately, he would have probably had enough pace to make the pass [again].”

Horner said the opening-lap incident was not noted by the stewards because all teams and drivers have asked for more leniency in such situations.

“We discussed these many, many times. It goes back to Niki Lauda, making an impassioned plea to [former race director] Charlie Whiting of ‘just let them race,’" he said. "It was agreed then for the first lap, it used to be; now it is very much the first corner, let them race and that was a classic case of that. And they all know that.”