Horner delivers verdict on latest Verstappen penalty

Christian Horner has shared his view of Max Verstappen’s five-second time penalty for a virtual safety car infringement during the São Paulo Grand Prix.

The Red Bull team principal admitted that “the data is the data”, which showed the Dutchman undercut the minimum VSC lap time delta by just over six-tenths of a second as he closed up to the back of Oscar Piastri.

When the VSC period ended, the Australian was able to hold off the three-time drivers’ champion to secure a McLaren one-two. Piastri had let Norris by for victory just before the reduced lap-time intervention.

When Verstappen’s penalty was applied, he was dropped behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and into fourth. His lead in the drivers’ championship standings is now 44 points as opposed to 45 at the chequered flag.

“Look, it’s one of those things,” Horner told Sky Sports F1 when reviewing the incident. “The data is the data.”

“And even though Max brakes before they started [resumed] racing, unfortunately, that’s it. So that’s why we got the penalty.”

Despite losing a point from his championship tally, it was not all doom and gloom for Verstappen and Red Bull.

Having been off the pace of Ferrari and McLaren in Mexico, it was refreshing for Horner to see Verstappen at least dispatch Leclerc on track.

Had the one-third distance race been longer, or the VSC not called, the 61-time grand prix winner may have taken the fight to Piastri and Norris ahead.

“The most encouraging thing was the performance of the car,” said Horner, before reflecting on Sergio Perez’s performance, as the 34-year-old recovered from P13 on the grid to eighth.

“Checo as well, fastest lap, made good progress, scored a point. So, important.”