Ferrari and Red Bull bosses have unsurprisingly offered very different views on Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc’s clash in Austria.
The Dutchman completed a remarkable charge to move from fourth to first at the Red Bull Ring, however, in passing the Monegasque, the pair made contact forcing Leclerc off the track.
In the wake of recent penalties in Canada and France, it’s far from certain which way the stewards will go but Ferrari’s Mattia Binotto thinks his driver has a strong case.
“First of all it was a great race for Verstappen, no doubt and a great race for Charlie [Leclerc],” the Swiss boss told Sky Sports.
“It’s been a fantastic fight on track but the regulations and rules are clear. It’s not a matter that after Canada that we should change approach [to the rules].
“The regulation is causing a collision and forcing a car off the track. I think both of the situations are there.
“It is under investigation and I am confident of the result [being overturned]. We trust the work of the stewards.”
His Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner had the exact opposite opinion.
“I think he did [leave enough room]. Leclerc has the opportunity, he [Verstappen] is fully up the inside and at that point, he can’t just get out of the way,” he told the British broadcaster.
“Leclerc has to concede the corner at some point. You see Max go for the inside, that’s clean, he’s right there, Leclerc comes in aggressively, but what are you supposed to do?”
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He would follow by suggesting any decision which penalised Verstappen would take away from the excitement Sunday’s race provided.
“This is just what Formula 1 needs, hard racing between two guys who are the future, and if they take the win away from Max here, that in my view would be stealing from Formula 1, this is exactly what we need,” Horner continued.
“This is the kind of racing we need, drivers going wheel-to-wheel and fighting each other.”
