Christian Horner backs Norris after penalty for "hard racing" with Perez

Norris, Perez, Mercedes, Austria — Photo: © LAT Images

Austrian Grand Prix

Horner backs Norris after penalty for "hard racing" with Perez

Perez also picked up penalties for forcing Leclerc off the track

Ewan Gale

Sunday 4 July 2021 18:08

Christian Horner has backed Lando Norris after the McLaren driver was handed a five-second penalty for forcing Red Bull's Sergio Perez off track during the Austrian Grand Prix.

Perez was attempting to overtake Norris around the outside at the safety car restart for second place, with the Mexican running out of room at turn four and dropping to 10th.

Later on in the race, Perez was found guilty of committing the same offence twice with Charles Leclerc in attempting moves at turn four and six.

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Max Verstappen dominated to take victory by 18 seconds over Valtteri Bottas but the Mercedes was afforded the opportunity to jump Norris due to the subsequent penalty for the Perez incident.

"Max drove an impeccable race, he didn't put a wheel wrong, led every lap, fastest lap and a really clean race for him," Horner told Sky Sports F1.

"I didn't have a major problem with the Lando move, it was racing, it was hard racing wheel-to-wheel so then to get a penalty for that and then I guess they [the stewards] gave themselves no choice when he had the same with Charles.

"That's racing, otherwise, you'll get drivers chucking themselves off the circuit and taking penalties. A bit disappointing. For me, that is hard racing but that's life."

Red Bull insists "there isn't really anything we should fear"

Verstappen's win was his third in a row and Red Bull's fifth, with the constructors' championship gap standing at 44 points to Mercedes heading to the British Grand Prix.

"We know Mercedes has been so strong at Silverstone over the last seven years so they are going to be mighty around there and of course, with the British fans supporting Lewis [Hamilton], that is going to put more petrol in his tank," warned Horner.

"Of course, it is the first of the sprint races as well so it is going to be a different dynamic but if we can carry this momentum into Silverstone, then there isn't really anything we should fear."