Verstappen success vindicates Red Bull after foul play "accusations" - Christian Horner

Verstappen in FrenchGP qualifying — Photo: © LAT Images

French Grand Prix

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Verstappen success vindicates Red Bull after foul play "accusations" - Horner

Red Bull faced two technical directives this weekend

Sam Hall

Monday 21 June 2021 09:28

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Christian Horner believes Red Bull has been vindicated after being on the receiving end of accusations of circumnavigating various regulations in recent weeks.

Following Max Verstappen's victory in the French Grand Prix, Red Bull has won three in a row for the first time in the turbo-hybrid era and leads Mercedes by 37 points in the constructors' standings, with the Dutch driver 12 ahead of Lewis Hamilton.

But in establishing itself at the top of the standings, Red Bull has been accused of foul play with regard to its flexible rear wing and pushing the boundaries on tyre pressures.

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At the Paul Ricard Circuit, the FIA introduced new technical directives surrounding both areas but with Verstappen victorious and Sergio Perez third, Horner believes his team can feel a sense of absolution.

He said: “A lot of comments have been made over the last few weeks. We’ve had accusations made.

"But we’ve complied with the rules and the way that we’ve reacted shows the strength and depth of our performance isn’t based on rear-wing flexibility and at all times we have always followed the prescriptions from Pirelli.

“Obviously, the increase in tyre pressure this weekend was challenging for all the teams but again the engineering team have done a great job in optimising the car around it.”

A protest on its way?

Although Mercedes never officially protested Red Bull's rear wing, the noise made by the team on the subject was enough to attract the attention of the FIA and convince the governing body to introduce a technical directive.

In response, Red Bull has been gathering footage of Mercedes' front wong that also highlights the impact of flexible aerodynamic devices.

“Again there has been quite a lot of footage over the weekend so the FIA we trust to police these things," added Horner. "Of course, you can’t treat the rear wing in isolation.

"You have to look at both front and rear wings and what applies to the rear you would assume applies to the front as well.”