Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has warned that in-race penalties given to rivals such as Lando Norris & Sergio Pérez at the Austrian Grand Prix may encourage drivers to play the rule book.
Three in-race penalties were issued for racing incidents during Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix, as well as two for Yuki Tsunoda crossing the white line at pit entry & a collision between Kimi Raikkonen & Sebastian Vettel on the final lap. A post-race penalty was issued for
The first in-race penalty was the most controversial & saw Norris penalize five seconds for failing to leave the width of the car at the exit of Turn 4, while defending the position after a safety car restart from Perez. Later in the race Pérez was also issued two five-second penalties for a similar defense move against Charles Leclerc, although Pérez actually made contact with Leclerc in the first one at Turn 4 & the second at Turn 6. Happened during the lap.
Although his driver lost in the first incident with Norris, Horner believed it was a racing incident & should not have resulted in a penalty.
"The event with Checo & Lando was running," he said. "If you hang out, you take a risk — especially when you're not in a position where you're ahead [going to the corner].
"But I think the FIA, having awarded that penalty, could not award a penalty for a similar move with Charles [& Perez later in the race].
“These guys have been running karting since they were kids & it happens, you take a risk if you hang out, even if you are ahead.
"So I think the punishment was a little harsh, & it goes a little bit against the 'let them run' mantra that we've been championing in recent years."
When asked whether the incidents set a precedent whereby drivers could position themselves outside other cars, knowing that this could result in a penalty for their opponent if they did not back down, Horner said. Said: "You don't want the equivalent of footballers to dive. I think we need to avoid that."
"But it's incredibly difficult & we talk about these things very often. It's a difficult task for the race director [Michael Massey], but I think maybe the events we saw today deserve to be done." There could have been more racing incidents than the penalty."
Horner said the penalty would be the subject of discussion at the next meeting between Messi, team managers & drivers ahead of the British Grand Prix.
"I think [it will be discussed] in the relevant forum, with both Michael & the drivers & the team managers, they will discuss that, I'm sure. They always discuss the events of the previous races, so I'm sure They will discuss it at Silverstone."