In Monaco, Sergio Perez from Red Bull experiences a crash.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner was not best pleased with Kevin Magnussen in Monaco, who eliminated Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg in a “not very clever” incident.
The Monaco Grand Prix was red flagged on the opening lap with Red Bull driver Perez and the Haas duo of Hulkenberg and Magnussen involved in a huge shunt, Perez’s Red Bull obliterated after being tagged into the barriers by Magnussen on the the hill out of Ste. Devote.
Christian Horner ‘surprised’ over no Kevin Magnussen investigation
Additional reporting by Sam Cooper
Hulkenberg, Magnussen’s teammate, was also involved in the incident but the stewards concluded that no investigation was necessary. This decision brought great relief to Magnussen, as he is just two penalty points away from facing a one-race suspension.
Horner was left bewildered by the stewards’ decision, criticizing Magnussen’s maneuver as “lacking intelligence” and causing significant damage not only to Perez’s race but also to his own teammate.
Horner, when addressing the media, including PlanetF1.com, expressed his astonishment at the lack of investigation into the incident, considering its significant nature.
“Kevin made a risky move on the inside in a narrow section of the track, where most drivers would have opted to retreat. Unfortunately, his decision not only ruined Checo’s race and damaged his car, but also had a negative impact on his own teammate’s race. Overall, it was not a very wise move.”
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When asked about the extent of damage to Perez’s RB20 at this point, Horner responded, “I cannot provide specific details on the engine and chassis, but it is clear that the accident was significant. Therefore, it will be an expensive one, quite expensive indeed.”
However, Horner emphasized that the crucial aspect is Perez’s safe escape from a “terrible-looking incident.”
He described the accident as dreadful, acknowledging the overwhelming feeling of fear and concern for the driver’s well-being as a natural reaction in such situations.
Fortunately, cars have the ability to be repaired. However, the integrity of the structure and the Halo device played their roles effectively, which is the crucial aspect. The primary concern is that Checo managed to escape from the seemingly severe incident without any injuries.
Following a challenging race at Imola, Perez aimed to deliver a powerful performance at Monaco, considering the critical phase he finds himself in while vying for a contract extension with Red Bull. Unfortunately, his elimination in Q1 was not the ideal start he had hoped for during the race weekend.
Horner acknowledged the challenging weekend for Perez, referring to it as “brutal.” He also recognized the need for both Red Bull cars to perform well, especially with tougher competition arising from Ferrari and McLaren. In Monaco, the top four spots were secured by Ferrari and McLaren, leaving Red Bull’s Championship leader, Max Verstappen, in sixth place.
Horner expressed his concern over Perez’s Monaco performance, emphasizing the toughness of the weekend for him.
“And, well, it’s quite clear that we must ensure that both cars are capable of earning points up there, as we cannot overlook the threat posed by Ferrari and McLaren in both championships.”
Ferrari has narrowed Red Bull’s Constructors’ Championship lead to just 24 points after Charles Leclerc claimed victory on home soil in Monaco, while Carlos Sainz secured P3.
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