Horner handed 'official warning' by FIA for 'rogue marshal' comment

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner was summoned to the stewards after Sunday's Qatar Grand Prix for potentially bringing the sport into disrepute and handed an official warning by the FIA.

The five-place grid penalty levied upon Max Verstappen for breaching yellow flags in qualifying was heavily criticized by Horner before Sunday's race.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the Red Bull chief didn't hold back when he publicly commented on the sanction.

“They’ve got to have control of their marshals," said Horner. "It’s as simple as that because that’s a crucial blow in this world championship for us. We’re starting P7 at a track you can’t overtake at, that is massive.

"I think there needs to be some grown-ups making grown-up decisions. Just having binary, somebody sticks a yellow flag out, it’s just frustrating," he later added.

"I think the race director should have control of the circuit. He’s the referee at the end of the day and otherwise anybody, you get a marshal that decides to stick a yellow flag out. How does that work?"

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Horner's words were noted by the FIA who considered that they were a potential breach of two articles of the International Sporting Code related to the standards of conduct that competitors are expected to follow.

After meeting with the stewards after the race, Horner again spoke to Sky and said that he had apologized for his comments, insisting he had vented his frustration with a situation and did not mean to disparage the good work of the marshals.

"Some comments were made in our interview earlier when you asked me about the marshalling and I'd like to make it clear that marshals do a wonderful, wonderful job, and they're volunteers - they do a great job," Horner said.

"My frustration in what I voiced earlier wasn't at marshals, it was at a circumstance and so, if any offence was taken by any individual, then obviously I apologise for that.

"It's still frustrating to end up with the situation that we had, but [it was] a phenomenal recovery by Max and the team today."

The FIA's stewards "unreservedly" accepted the Red Bull team boss' apology and have addressed an 'Official Warning' to the Briton who has also offered to participate in the FIA’s International Stewards Programme in February 2022.

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