Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has confirmed the team will not challenge the two 10-second time penalties handed to Max Verstappen during the Mexican Grand Prix.
The penalties, for clashes with Lando Norris on Lap 10, sent Verstappen tumbling down the order. He eventually recovered to finish P6, but his title lead was cut to 47 points.
While Red Bull won’t contest the penalties, Horner is urging the FIA to address what he sees as a bigger issue: a lack of clarity in racing guidelines, particularly when it comes to defending position.
“The most important thing to address is: what is the way to go racing going forward?” Horner said. “I’m not sure that it’s clear to the drivers.”
He argued that the current emphasis on who has their “nose ahead at the apex point” can lead to situations where drivers make reckless maneuvers to secure the inside line, even if they can’t complete the pass cleanly.
Horner believes the first penalty was particularly harsh, as Verstappen “stayed within the perimeter” of the track unlike the incident between the two drivers at the Circuit of the Americas.
“There’s great racing going on,” Horner concluded, “and I think it’s important that the rules of engagement are fair, rather than giving an advantage to the outside line.”
The penalties proved costly for Verstappen, who would have likely finished higher without them. This keeps the championship battle alive heading into the remaining races of the 2024 season.
