“He was only giving the place to Hamilton”: Christian Horner defends Max Verstappen


“He was only giving the place to Hamilton”: Christian Horner defends Max Verstappen

Christian Horner and Max Verstappen

To start from the very first instance, Max Verstappen retained the lead on Lap 36 after sliding off at Turn 1 while battling arch title rival Lewis Hamilton. After which he was instructed to hand the position to the Brit driver. He did so down the back straight into the final corner, with Hamilton apparently wrong-footed and hitting the back of the Red Bull, to which now Christian Horner has come to defend his ace driver. 

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Speaking after the race when Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton are now tied on points in the Driver’s Standings, Christian Horner feels that the team has been done hard by with multiple advantages given to the reigning world champion. 

What was opinionated by Christian Horner? 

Christian Horner and Toto Wolff
Christian Horner and Toto Wolff

“I think we feel hard done by with a five-second penalty and then the incident where Lewis has driven up the back of Max, they’ll go and explain in front of the stewards but Max was trying to give the place up,” he told Sky Sports F1. “We informed Race Control, we were going to give the place up. And he lifted off, and I think Lewis actually lifted off. I don’t know whether he’s messing around for the DRS line there, but it was clear that we were giving the place up. We had informed Race Control that’s what we were gonna do. 

Christian Horner on Lewis Hamilton after Max Verstappen Crash
Christian Horner and Max Verstappen

“There had been a debate about that. Michael [Masi, FIA Race Director] was adamant that ‘you have a choice or it is going to the stewards’, at which point, you know it’s gonna be a penalty. So we said ‘OK, we’ll give the place up and we informed Race Control.” 

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It’s weird because Lewis was slowing down behind him, it sounds like he’s lifted off so it’s like he didn’t want to pass him there because of the DRS,” Horner continued. “We were trying to give the place up and Lewis then drives up the back of Max’s car. Obviously, we’ve picked up quite a bit of damage with that. So very, very frustrating, very annoying.”

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