Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, has unleashed a scathing critique on the Formula 1 stewards following a massive penalty imposed on driver Yuki Tsunoda during the Canadian Grand Prix. Tsunoda incurred a severe setback after overtaking Oscar Piastri under red flag conditions in Free Practice 3, leading to a 10-place grid penalty and two penalty points on his superlicence.
The controversial penalty pushed Tsunoda from an 11th place qualifying position to the back of the grid, starting from P18 due to peculiar circumstances with other drivers. Despite a commendable climb to 12th during the race, Tsunoda fell short of scoring any points, prompting Horner to question the fairness and consistency of the stewards’ decisions.
Horner highlighted the discrepancy in penalties, noting that while Tsunoda faced harsh consequences for his actions, seven other drivers were merely warned after overtaking during the cool-down lap under safety car conditions. This stark contrast in treatment left Horner and Red Bull perplexed and seeking greater uniformity in stewarding decisions.
Expressing his dissatisfaction with the situation, Horner emphasized the need for consistency in applying penalties across all instances of rule infringement. He commended Tsunoda for his performance during the race and urged the young driver to focus on developing his own style and setup, rather than emulating others.
The contentious events at the Canadian Grand Prix have reignited debates surrounding the stewarding process in Formula 1, with Horner’s vocal criticism shedding light on the complexities and challenges faced by drivers and teams in navigating the regulatory landscape of the sport.
