Christian Horner: The rules need to be reviewed

      The stewards of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix fined Max Verstappen for five seconds for driving off the track in the first corner during the fight with Oscar Piastri. After the finish, the Red Bull Racing driver refused to comment on the stewards' decision, and team principal Christian Horner called the fine too harsh and called for a review of the rules.

      "I think the penalty is too harsh," Christian Horner said after the finish. – We did not ask Max to return the position, because we did not believe that he had done anything wrong. On repeat, it is clearly visible that at the apex of the turn, Max is obviously ahead. The rules of fighting in such situations have already been discussed earlier, and this is obviously a very tough decision.

      If Max had missed his opponent, he would have ended up in the "dirty" air, and his position would have been threatened by George Russell. Therefore, the best thing we could have done when we got the penalty was to stay ahead and keep attacking.

      Look here [Horner brought a printout of the broadcast shot from Max's car to a meeting with the press]. I don't understand how the stewards came to such conclusions. Max couldn't just disappear into thin air. The rules probably need to be reviewed.

      I do not know what happened to the rule that says the drivers are allowed to fight on the first lap. It looks like this rule has just been abolished."