Red Bull expected "gamesmanship” in Canadian GP as rivals try to catch out Max Verstappen

Christian Horner has revealed that Red Bull asked the Canadian Grand Prix race director to be on the lookout for any “gamesmanship” from Formula 1 rivals towards Max Verstappen.

The reigning, four-time world champion is just one penalty point away from a race ban following his crash into George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix and the pair were once again at odds during Sunday’s contest in Montreal.

With Russell on pole and Verstappen second, all eyes were on Turn 1 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve only for the race to seemingly pass by without incident.

However, with a late safety car period due to Lando Norris crashing into McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, the rivalry reared its head once again as Verstappen claimed over team radio that Russell braked too aggressively and had also dropped more than the regulated 10 car lengths behind the safety car.

The situation ultimately led to a post-race Red Bull protest, with the stewards eventually rejecting – although one aspect of the claim was that: “Red Bull also alleged that by complaining over team radio that Car 1 had overtaken him under safety car the driver of Car 63 had ‘displayed unsportsmanlike intent’.”

Speaking while Verstappen and Russell were pleading their cases to the stewards, Horner said that, ahead of the grand prix, the team wanted to alert the race director to the chance of rivals potentially looking to goad Verstappen into a situation that could land him further penalty points.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

“It's inevitable that there was going to be some potential gamesmanship,” said Horner. “It's something that we raised after the driver's briefing with the race director just so that they were mindful of it as well because, it's clear that that kind of stuff goes on. But Max, I thought he's been squeaky clean all weekend and drove a very good race.

“We just said to them ‘look, could they please keep an eye on it because there's been obviously comments that have been raised in the media. Just please keep an eye on it’.”

Verstappen and Russell were both summoned to the stewards and spent around 45 minutes in the meeting before decamping back to their respective team hospitality.

Russell and Mercedes were able to eventually celebrate the victory almost six hours after the chequered flag had been waved, with the latest chapter of his simmering rivalry with Verstappen put to bed.

Horner, though, insisted the appeal was lodged without Verstappen even being aware. Asked if there was an element of the Dutchman pushing Red Bull to go to the stewards, he said: “No, not at all. Max was talking to you guys and had no idea. It's within the competitor's right to raise a protest.

“It’s 2,000 Euros per protest and we were surprised that they weren't noted and sent to the stewards. So therefore you have the right as a competitor to do that and that's what we've chosen to do.”