Christian Horner says Red Bull did not discuss the reception they received in F1 75 live, despite accepting his “frustration” with Boos towards Max Verstappen.
Horner was obediently withdrawn by fans at the F1 start event in London last week when Red Bull discovered their 2025 living and Verstappen seemed to be given a mixed reception when appearing on screens in the O2 Arena.
The F1 management body, FIA, has since issued a statement expressing their “disappointment” in “tribal” reactions and announced a coalition to handle online abuse, united against internet abuse.
“FIA made their comments about it. We probably didn’t have any converting to FIA after the event, it was part of their campaign to stamp the abuse of the Internet,” Horner said in the F1 pre-season test in Bahrain, who is directly Sky Sports F1 and free to transmit to Sports app.
He added: “Starting your car is more or less like starting your ribbon at the fan stadium at home. Fans will always support the teams and drivers they want.
“Of course, we have been the protagonists over the years. I think the only disappointment I had with him was that I was receiving Max as a world champion four times was disappointing.
“The passion in sports will always be there if the omissions have been in the Netherlands, no doubt the reception would have been somewhat different.”
Neither Verstappen or Liam Lawson spoke to fans, unlike the other 18 drivers during the start. Mercedes Toto Wolff team director said Sky Sports News That he thought Verstappen was not upset.
Horner says he is the inevitable fans will react differently “depending on where you compete in the world and this is part of Elite Sport.”
“Fans are the DNA of this sport. I think the random has changed clearly in recent years, as we have welcomed increasingly diverse fans of the sport,” he said.
“Sport is polarizing and competitive. Fans are passionate, and they support their leaders, they mainly support their teams. You can’t dictate it.”
Brown: Booing is part of the sport
McLaren received one of the biggest night cheers, with Lando Norris becoming one of the most popular network leaders in recent years.
A rivalry began between Red Bull and McLaren last season, including between Horner and Zak Brown, with both teams trying to get the upper hand after the battle for the title became more intense.
Verstappen won the title of drivers, but McLaren secured their first constructor championship in 26 years.
Brown says fans are “expressing their opinion on who they were cheering or not.”
“I’ve never been to a sports event that has been quiet, where someone is not screaming at a football player to lose a goal, or in ice or baseball,” he said.
“Sport brings passion to fans, and they cheer and they boo. I heard nothing that was other than cheering and booing. I probably saw much worse on social media, where you go, ‘wait a minute, you are gone more or less away. ‘
“But cheering and booing has been part of the sport, every sport, forever, and that’s what the fans do. They scream on their TV when they are watching with their friends.
“Everyone has a favorite team, a favorite driver, a lesser favorite side. I just think it’s sport. I didn’t think there was anything violent, and you definitely see other sports that have exploded riot .
Sky Sports F1 Direct Test Program
Wednesday Feb 26 – The first day
- 11.55am-4.05 Afternoon: Afternoon session
- 8:00: Testing Completion
- 8.30 Afternoon: TED Test Journal
Thursday 27 February – Second Day
- 6.50am-11.05AM: Breakfast session
- 11.55am-4.05 Afternoon: Afternoon session
- 8:00: Testing Completion
- 8.30 Afternoon: TED Test Journal
Friday 28 February – Third Day
- 6.50am-11.05AM: Breakfast session
- 11.55am-4.05 Afternoon: Afternoon session
- 8:00: Testing Completion
- 8.30 Afternoon: TED Test Journal
- 9 Afternoon: TED development angle
When is the first F1 racing?
For the first time since 2019, the season space will be held in Melbourne in the Australian Grand Prix on March 14-16. The first race has passed from Bahrain to Australia because of Ramadan that is taking place throughout March.
There are 24 events in the 2025 F1 calendar, the same number as last year, with the season ending at Abu Dhabi’s Grand Prix on December 5-7.
Check out all the 24 weekends of the 2025 Formula 1 Live season at the Sky Sports F1, starting with the Australian GP on March 14-16. Stream Sky Sports with now – without contract, cancel at any time