F1 | Christian Horner executed offence obligation by attending 2022 FIA International Stewards Programme
Horner fulfilled his offence obligation by attending the FIA’s stewards’ training programme, which he agreed to participate in after the controversial comments he made when Verstappen got a grid penalty in the Qatar Grand Prix last November.
Last November, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen received a five-place grid penalty and two super licence penalty points after he failed to respect double yellow flags in qualifying that were put in place after Pierre Gasly stopped on the pit straight.
This prompted his team principal, Christian Horner, to blame a “rogue marshal” for incorrectly using a double waved yellow when he was speaking to Sky F1, comments which were widely reported.
This caught the FIA’s attention, and they took this matter very seriously, and they called Horner to see the stewards on race day under provisions of the International Sporting Code.
The Sporting Code specifies that “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 motor sport and on the values defended by the FIA” represent a breach of rules.
As a consequence of his comments, Horner received an official warning and stewards made a note specifying that Horner had explained that ”his reaction was one that was made under the pressure of competition following the penalty imposed on the driver of car 33.
“The stewards explained that the marshal concerned was doing his job in precisely the manner prescribed in the International Sporting Code. Mr Horner offered to apologise to the marshal concerned and to explain to the media that he meant no offence.
“He also offered to participate in the 2022 FIA International Stewards Programme in early February. The stewards unreservedly accept Mr Horner’s offer.”
The programme, which was held this weekend, was a two-day programme that was attended online by stewards from all over the world from various motorsport disciplines. It was designed as a training course to help them perform their jobs more effectively and it featured speakers like Garry Connelly and Tim Mayer.
During a Q&A session Horner talked about his role as Red Bull’s team principal and the team’s relationship with the FIA.
He also participated in a competitor’s panel, specifically on the subject of stewarding chaired by Michael Masi, F1 Race Director. This panel also featured Ferri driver Charles Leclerc, Former Formula E Champion Antonio Felix da Costa, Ford WRC driver Adrien Fourmaux and Toyota WRC boss Jari-Matti Latvala.
