F1 | Qatar GP | The FIA accepts Horner's apologies after alleged infringement of sporting codes
Minutes after the end of the Qatar GP, the Stewards summoned Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner for allegedly infringing the standards of conduct every team member should respect.
Round 20 of 22, getting closer to the season finale with the battle for the Championship heating up.
Just minutes after the checkered flag Red Bull’s team boss Christian Horner was ordered to visit the stewards’ office for alleged breaches of the International Sporting Code.
The FIA was contesting infringements of Article 12.2.1 f) and 12.2.1 k), both relating to the standards of conduct that competitors are expected to follow.
The two articles of the Sporting Code deem there to be an offence if a competitor has issued: “Any words, deeds or writings that have caused moral injury or loss to the FIA, its bodies, its members or its executive officers, and more generally on the interest of motorsport and on the values defended by the FIA.”
Article 12.2.1.k states that it is an offence for any misconduct towards license holders, officials and officers, or members of the staff of the FIA, the organizers or competitors.
As far as it is understood, the supposed breaches are connected with Horner’s and Red Bull’s advisor Helmut Marko statements prior to the start of the Grand Prix, when title contender Max Verstappen was handed a five-place grid penalty for ignoring double yellow flags in qualifying.
Speaking to Sky F1 before the race, Horner made some harsh declarations stating: “I think it’s just a rogue marshal that’s stuck a flag out and he’s not been instructed to by the FIA.
“They’ve got to have control of their marshals. 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.”
He later added: “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.
“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?”
Horner was not the only Red Bull’s member to show his fury – Helmut Marko also highly criticized the governing body.
Marko said: “It's ridiculous. You know the FIA can't organise a proper marshalling system and they are hiding their incompetence on the shoulders of the driver. Unbelievable.”
Eventually, the FIA has issued a report claiming that the Stewards “accept Mr. Horner apologies” after the explained that his reaction was one that was made under the pressure of competition following the penalty imposed on Max.
