Red Bull's Christian Horner says team bosses should not be allowed to visit F1's stewards and potentially exercise undue influence when an incident is under review.
Last Sunday's controversial on-track clash between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton led to both Red Bull Racing and Mercedes team representatives calling FIA race director Michael Masi during the race's red flag period to cast their unilateral view on the high-profile incident.
But when Mercedes boss Toto Wolff offered to argue his case directly to the stewards, and Masi accepted, an angry Horner took exception with the Austrian's initiative.
"I saw Toto, who was lobbying the stewards, which I heard he was going there so I went there to make sure our view was represented," recounted Horner after the race.
"I don’t think it’s right that team principals go up there to lobby the stewards.
"They should be locked away so they’re not influenced and for me that was unacceptable that he had gone up there to lobby the stewards.
"I wanted to make sure there was a balanced opinion given, rather than trying to influence pressure on the stewards to make a menial sentence.
"I don’t think anyone should be allowed to see the stewards during the course of a Grand Prix."
On the opposing side of the stewards' office, Wolff justified his decision to personally deliver his view on events.
"I was told that there was a rant on the radio to Michael about all the badness in the world, and then I went up and gave my opinion," Wolff sarcastically said, referring to Horner's earlier radio communication with Masi.
"I’ve been to the stewards many times."
- Read also - Jos Verstappen: 'Wolff no longer needs to call'
Masi stated that he had no objections with a team boss interacting directly with the stewards.
"If we have an incident after the race we invite the teams and the drivers to come and appear before the stewards," he said. "And that’s one of the elements the stewards have.
"We had the case in Monza last year when Lewis went and spoke to the stewards to understand what happened and have a look at the whole picture. During the suspension, that ability exists, so there's no reason not to."
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