Christian Horner Challenges Stewards Over Big Red Bull Penalty

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Christian Horner has raised strong concerns about the recent decision by Formula 1 stewards following the Canadian Grand Prix. The Red Bull Racing Team Principal questioned the severity and consistency of penalties handed out, especially after seeing Yuki Tsunoda hit with a major sanction.

Tsunoda, who qualified 11th, received a 10-place grid penalty and two penalty points on his FIA superlicence for overtaking Oscar Piastri under red flag conditions during Free Practice 3. This penalty dropped Tsunoda to 18th on the starting grid, even though some drivers started from the pit lane.

Despite his setback, Tsunoda managed to work his way up to finish in 12th place during the race. He missed out on a points finish, which would likely have been possible if he had started from his original qualifying position.

Horner highlighted that while Tsunoda was punished for a red flag infraction, seven other drivers were only given warnings after overtaking during the cool-down lap when the field was still technically under safety car instructions. The differences in penalty severity led Horner to publicly ask for more consistency from the officiating body.

The details of the incident involved Tsunoda passing Piastri’s car at 171 kilometers per hour, or approximately 106 mph, while red flags were displayed. In contrast, the seven drivers investigated after the race for overtaking with marshals possibly on track did not face similar consequences, receiving only formal warnings instead of grid drops or penalty points.

Horner told the media, including RacingNews365, that with such situations, teams and drivers expect a level playing field in stewarding decisions throughout the season.

Horner went on to praise Tsunoda’s recovery drive, commenting on how challenging overtaking remains in Canada. He suggested that the young driver should gain confidence from his performance but also encouraged him to avoid copying Max Verstappen’s setup too closely and instead focus on developing a style that fits his own strengths.

According to Horner, had Tsunoda started 11th as he qualified, the Japanese driver would likely have finished in the points.

The Canadian round added to an already eventful Formula 1 season filled with controversial calls and high-pressure situations. Earlier, Red Bull’s protest against George Russell’s race win was rejected, and the intra-team clash between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri served as another big talking point in the paddock.

These major incidents underline the competitive intensity present at every round this year.

McLaren continues to lead the team standings, with Oscar Piastri first in driver points at 198, ahead of Lando Norris on 176 and Max Verstappen with 155. Red Bull, meanwhile, trails with 162 team points, while McLaren has 374. For more on McLaren’s strong season performance, see their recent developments here.

The next chance for teams and drivers to improve their rankings will arrive at the Austrian Grand Prix set for 29 June, followed by the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on 6 July.

The outcome in Montreal has intensified calls for stewarding reforms, with championship contenders and their teams keen to see clearer and more consistent rules. How the FIA responds will be watched closely as the season heads into its crucial summer stretch. Recent discussions about technical regulations can be found here.