Christian Horner has spoken about the booing (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
, ‘s team principal, has likened launching their F1 car in London to walking into the lion’s den of a rival football team’s stadium, following the unwelcome reception of boos aimed at from British fans. At the lavish season launch event held at the O2 Arena, both Horner and the star driver experienced jeers from the 15,000-strong crowd, with no other drivers or team bosses facing such disdain.
Horner took the booing in his stride during his on-stage appearance and subsequently downplayed the negative attention tossed his way. However, he was clearly irked by the jeering directed at Verstappen, stating: “Of course launching your car is a bit like launching your away strip in a home fans’ stadium.”
Horner acknowledged that fans have their favourites but expressed his displeasure, particularly towards the treatment of Verstappen, a four-time world champion, describing it as “disappointing.”
He remarked that while passion is inherent in sports, the reaction might have been more favourable in Holland, saying: “Fans will always back the teams and drivers that they want to. Of course, we’ve been the protagonists over the years. The only disappointment I had with it was the reception to Max as a four-time world champion. That was disappointing. But passion in sport is always going to be there. If the launch had been in Holland, no doubt the reception would have been somewhat different.”
Other than this incident, the only other times boos were heard that evening were in response to the showing of the FIA logo, prompting collective disapproval from the audience. After the dust settled on the event a few days later, the FIA published a statement condemning the negative reception received by Horner and Verstappen at the F1 launch.
The FIA’s denouncement of “tribalist” behaviour has drawn further critiques, with some voices suggesting it was a move to shield . However, Horner has insisted that no such request was made to the FIA.
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Max Verstappen did not receive a warm reception (Image: Getty)
Horner clarified: “They made their own comments on it. It was nothing that we, certainly, asked for. I didn’t have any conversation with the FIA following the event. It was part of their campaign to stamp out online abuse.”
In contrast, , last season’s constructors’ crown bearers, revelled in applause and cheers on the evening, not least for their ace, . , the top executive at the Woking enterprise who had previously cast aspersions on , was noticeably unsympathetic towards Horner or Verstappen.
Brown commented: “I’ve never been to a sporting event that has been quiet. Sport brings out passion in fans, they cheer and they boo. I didn’t hear anything other than cheering and booing. I have seen a lot worse on social media.
“Cheering and booing has been part of sport forever, that’s what fans do, they yell at their TV. I didn’t think there was anything visceral or violent. You see other sports that have had riots break out and it was far from that. It was sport and fans doing what fans do when they voice their opinion.”
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