Minardi Calls Out Red Bull For 'Mismanagement' Of Verstappen

Wednesday, 11 December 2024 at 15:34

Former F1 team owner Gian Carlo Minardi strongly disagreed with Red Bull's "mismanagement" of Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi.

Red Bull Racing F1 driver Max Verstappen was unhappy with the stewards' verdict on his opening lap collision with Oscar Piastri, which resulted in a spin for both drivers.

When the Dutchman received a message from his engineer saying that he had received a ten-second penalty, he responded, "Can we ask for 20 seconds? Stupid idiots."

While this offensive radio message hasn't gone unnoticed, the stewards decided not to follow up on it, and two days later, the FIA spokesperson confirmed there would be no investigation and that they considered the matter closed.

When the team principal of Red Bull Racing, Christian Horner, was asked about Verstappen's insult on the team radio, he defended the Dutchman, saying the same thing would happen in other sports if we gave the players microphones during the game.

Former F1 team owner Gian Carlo Minardi doesn't like Horner's approach, which he made clear in a recent interview with Motorsport Italia:

"It is inconceivable the reactions that a four-time world champion is doing via radio. So I don't agree with this mismanagement or the freedom that the team gives him because if he doesn't call back and if he doesn't find the tools to maintain the image of Red Bull."

“The undisputed four-time world champion is not behaving well in terms of what, for me, is the teaching that these drivers must give to the new young drivers.

Sergio Perez also offended the stewards at the 2023 Abu Dhabi but with a different outcome:

Many expected the stewards to react to this insult from the four-time world champion with at least an investigation and a reprimand, considering what happened with Sergio Perez in 2023.

The Mexican driver was not happy with the stewards' decisions during the race at Yas Marina Circuit. Speaking on his radio after the Grand Prix, he called them "a joke."

Based on this, the 34-year-old was then summoned to the stewards, who ultimately issued him a reprimand for his words with the official statement saying:

"The Stewards explained to the driver that they had no issue with someone disagreeing with their decisions however comments that amount to personal insults are a breach of the International Sporting Code."

Should the stewards have reacted differently in 2023 when they issued or formal warning to Perez, or should they have reacted differently in 2024 when they decided to take no action after Verstappen's insult?