Unapologetic Horner says Red Bull due… an apology!

Despite the sanction imposed on Red Bull for breaching F1's cost cap regulations, Christian Horner says his outfit owes no one an apology for how it manages its affairs.

However, the Briton believes Red Bull is due an apology from some of its rivals for "the claims that they've made".

The FIA lowered the boom on the Milton Keynes-based outfit for breaching F1's mandated 2021 budget by $1.8 million.

The team was hit with a hefty $7 million fine and a 10% reduction of aero development hours.

Since Suzuka, where the news broke of Red Bull's suspected breach, its rivals lobbied hard for the FIA to levy a significant punishment on the team.

Horner quickly took exception with the allegations of several of his peers in the paddock who speculated on the level of Red Bull's breach without any knowledge of the team's accounts, or accused the team of cheating.

Read also:

• Wolff: Cost cap saga inflicted 'reputational damage' on Red Bull

During Friday's special press conference in Mexico City where Horner commented his team's cost cap breach and the FIA's response, the Briton was asked if Red Bull should apologize to its rivals or to the sport's fans for its transgression of the rules.

"To be honest with you, I think we're probably due an apology from some of our rivals for some of the claims that they've made," Horner replied.

"We make no apology for the way that we've performed, the way that we've acted."

However, Horner admitted that there were certainly a few lessons to take away from its cost cap sage before it permanently put the matter in the rear view mirror.

"We do take on the chin that there are lessons to be [learned]," he added.

"Potentially mistakes have been made in our submission which, with the benefit of hindsight and 20/20 vision, everybody can be a specialist.

"But there was no intent, there was nothing dishonest and there was certainly no cheating involved, which has been alleged in certain corners."

Horner stated that it was time for the public "pounding" of his team to stop, and to move on.

"I don't feel that we need to apologise. I think that there are lessons that have been learned. I think that everybody can learn from this, and hopefully now the chapter can... We've taken our pounding in public.

"We've taken a very public pounding, through the accusations that have been made through other teams. We've had our drivers booed at circuits, and the reputational damage that's been made by allegations has been significant.

"The time is now for that to stop, and now to move on."

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