Christian Horner Blasts Nico Rosberg Over Shocking Max Verstappen Claim

Christian Horner responded strongly after Nico Rosberg called for Max Verstappen to be disqualified from the Spanish Grand Prix. The Red Bull team principal described Rosberg as “sensationalist” when pressed about the former world champion’s comments following a dramatic incident between Verstappen and George Russell at Circuit de Catalunya.

Rosberg suggested that Verstappen should have been black-flagged after an intentional collision on Lap 64 at Turn 5, which occurred after an earlier disagreement between the two drivers at Turn 1.

Verstappen was heard disputing instructions from his engineer to let Russell pass, and after appearing to comply, he accelerated and collided with the Mercedes driver.

As a result, race stewards handed Verstappen a 10-second time penalty for the move and added three penalty points to his super licence. This leaves Verstappen with 11 points total, just one short of a one-race suspension, since a ban is triggered at 12 points.

Verstappen’s earliest points will expire after June 30, so he must avoid receiving any additional points during the races in Canada and Austria to prevent missing a Grand Prix.

When asked by RacingNews365 about Rosberg’s call for an immediate disqualification, Horner dismissed the suggestion quickly.

He commented that Rosberg often uses dramatic language in his analysis. Horner then chose to move on from the subject without further elaboration.

The Red Bull boss was also questioned on how the team would manage Verstappen’s growing risk of a ban as the season progresses. Horner explained that avoiding further penalties would be critical across the next two events.

He admitted there are no guarantees but emphasized that Verstappen just needs to keep “his nose close” to avoid more incident until some of his penalty points naturally expire at the end of June.

The scrutiny arose as Verstappen’s race behavior led to accusations that he was acting recklessly, particularly with talk of “the red mist” taking hold during heated exchanges with Charles Leclerc and George Russell.

Audio from the team’s radio communications confirmed Verstappen’s growing frustration throughout the race, with Horner acknowledging that the driver did not agree with decisions involving either Leclerc or Russell.

The incident and penalty drew widespread attention across Formula 1, feeding larger conversations about driver conduct and race regulations.

As the championship race continues, Verstappen faces heightened pressure to steer clear of further disputes on track.

With penalty points not dropping off until after the Austrian Grand Prix, all eyes will be on the Red Bull champion in both Canada and Austria.

Any misstep could see him forced out of competition for a race, which would have a major impact on the team’s standing in the tightly contested 2025 F1 season.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.