3
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes that Pierre Gasly's actions on Friday did not warrant such a harsh penalty.
The Frenchman missed the call by the FIA to come to the weigh bridge as he returned to the pit lane at the end of the second practice session.
As a result, the Stewards ordered Gasly to start Sunday's Azerbaijan Grand Prix from the end of the pit lane.
While Horner admits that Gasly made a mistake by not cooperating, he firmly thinks that the penalty was far too harsh for a Friday incident.
"He committed a crime, there is no doubt about that,” Horner told Sky Sports F1. “The argument is is whether the penalty fits the crime. In my opinion, it doesn’t. It’s a Friday.
“If he had been running 50 kilos underweight, his penalty would have been less than what he actually got for missing that light.
“This regulation is a hangover from when we used to have qualifying on a Friday and if qualifying on Friday got cancelled, then they would refer back to the times of the previous practice. It is about as draconian as you can possibly get.”
Horner added the suggestion of excluding a driver who misses the weigh bridge from the Friday classifications rather than Saturday's.
In the event that the starting grid would need to be formed from Friday standings due to certain circumstances on Saturday, the driver would then be penalised as he made the mistake in the session that has been used for the grid.
The Red Bull boss says that he spoke with senior F1 staff about making changes to the regulations that unnecessarily disrupt a driver's weekend.
“This regulation was discussed this morning and Ross Brawn, Chase Carey, they all agreed. Let’s have a good go through these regulations as some of them refer back to instances that are irrelevant now.
“And let’s tidy up these silly penalties that don’t match the crime being committed, particularly on a Friday.”
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
United Arab Emirates
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
67,336 comments on Alpha Tauri
3 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Pierre Gasly
814,734 comments on Red Bull Racing 678 members have this team as their favourite Tweets about Red Bull Racing
Replies (3)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
No, it's to put it nicely straight up bollocks, but such are the rules, and it was a silly penalty to pick up. Which is a shame, considering he looks to be pretty quick around Baku..
abhidbgt
Posts: 283
That Q1 lap was good.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Indeed. Yet, it seems like when he isn't performing poorly, poor luck strike instead.