Masi: Horner penalty shows ‘attacks’ on F1 volunteers not accepted

Horner received an official warning and has offered to take part in a two-day stewards’ programme in early 2022 after blaming a “rogue marshal” for waving the yellow flags that led to Max Verstappen’s Qatar Grand Prix F1 grid penalty. 

The Red Bull team principal told the stewards his comments were made “under the pressure of competition” and has apologised for his actions. 

Speaking to the media after Sunday’s race, Masi defended the work of the marshals and made it clear that such criticism will not be tolerated. 

“I think you should not attack any person,” Masi said. 

“Especially when we have thousands of volunteer marshals around the world, that give up a huge amount of time globally. 

“Without them this sport that everyone has very close to their heart, and all of them give up a huge amount of their time, won’t happen.

“I will defend every volunteer official and every official at every racetrack around the world, and stress that this is not accepted.”

Explaining the response to the incident involving AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly that caused the yellow flags, Masi said: “What the locals did, they reacted to the situation before them. And that’s plain and simple.

“If you have a look at what was there and what was happening and with everything with Pierre’s car, they acted upon instinct for what was before them.

“It was a safety activity, they acted in the best interest of keeping everyone safe on track, and I don’t think anyone should be criticised for acting upon their instincts.”

Masi confirmed that he referred Horner to the stewards after being informed about his pre-race comments.

“Yes I did, it was a race director referral to the stewards,” he explained. “I was advised of them, and referred Christian, and Christian was very apologetic for his comments.

“Obviously the steward’s decision was very straightforward, he didn’t mean to offend anyone, the person in question who was actually waving the flag has been apologised to personally, and Christian to his credit has volunteered to come and be a part of the stewards’ seminar in 2022.

“It’s a two-day stewards seminar, so there’s lots that’s discussed over those two days. There’ll be lots of topics and we might give him a topic to present.”