Horner pleads for changes to Friday penalties after Baku mishap

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Red Bull's Christian Horner has made the case for Formula 1 to change its penalties for offenses committed during practice, arguing that current punishments are "too harsh for the crime".

Horner's view came after Red Bull's Pierre Gasly was hit with a pitlane start in Baku after the Frenchman failed to stop at the FIA weighbridge in Friday's FP2 session.

The Red Bull squad was in the process of practicing a double stack pitstop at the end of the session and Gasly simply missed the weighbridge light as he was focused on the task ahead.

Gasly feels confident heading to Spain despite Baku failure

Horner conceded that both team and driver were at fault, but the Brit took up the matter with F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn.

"I think everybody agreed in a meeting we had yesterday [on Saturday in Azerbaijan] with Ross Brawn and all of the teams that penalties on Friday that affect the rest of the weekend need a bit of a revisit," Horner said.

"I think that penalty was too harsh for the crime that was committed.

"If he had been 15kgs underweight, the penalty would’ve been the same. Unfortunately he wasn’t!

"Obviously the driver is the one that sees the light but usually there is also a reminder. But we were focused on doing a double pit stop, he was told to push to practice the pit lane entry, which is a bit different here.

"He had a snap of oversteer on the way in, the lights are here, he was focused on the team preparing for a double pit stop for Max, so it was just one of those things."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.