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Horner enrages his counterparts at smaller teams

Horner enrages his counterparts at smaller teams

  • Published on 24 Nov 2014 16:16
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Rival F1 team Force India has blasted outgoing world champions Red Bull as the "cheats" of the sport. "Red Bull gives you flexible wings," team supremo and co-owner Vijay Mallya said on Twitter on Sunday.

The former Indian billionaire's attack on the energy drink-owned team follows not just the latest flexible wing saga, but also team boss Christian Horner supposedly enraging his counterparts in a recent meeting. Not only Mallya, but also Lotus owner Gerard Lopez have intimated to members of the F1 media that it was Horner who openly laughed at the demise of backmarkers Caterham and Marussia.

The next most endangered teams - Lotus, Force India and Sauber - have been arguing ferociously in recent weeks that the sport should more fairly distribute its almost $1 billion in annual income among the teams. But Horner is quoted by the Times as "categorically" denying that he scoffed at their plight.

"I would never decry other teams," he said. "They have my respect. For example, we have helped Caterham get into the paddock. They got gearboxes from us (in Abu Dhabi) even though we are owed money."

But something has obviously enraged Mallya, who launched a tirade of anti-Red Bull sentiment on his official Twitter page ahead of Sunday's 2014 finale in Abu Dhabi. "Arrogance and a superiority complex on the part of those who are paid to be in F1 should not dilute or colour those who pay to be in F1," he said. "A big F1 team that says we small outfits should not come with bananas to a gun fight, grabs maximum money and cheats on the regulations," Mallya added.

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo were disqualified from qualifying on Saturday after the FIA deemed their front wings were illegal. A BBC report that revealed a concealed spring was specifically designed to allow the wing to illegally bend was also 'retweeted' by Mallya.

Former Caterham technical boss Mike Gascoyne also attacked the Red Bull chief on Sunday, tweeting before the race: "Wonder if Christian Halliwell will visit the back of the grid? Will remind him of his first few years in Red Bull." He signed off with the hashtag: "Whatgoesaroundcomesaround". (GMM)
F1 News Daniel Ricciardo Sebastian Vettel Force India Lotus F1 Sauber Marussia

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Date
Grand Prix
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Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia
Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
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Miami International Autodrome
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Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
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Monte Carlo
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Circuit de Catalunya
16 - Jun 18
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
30 - Jul 2
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Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
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Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
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Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
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Spa-Francorchamps
25 - Aug 27
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Circuit Zandvoort
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Italy
Monza
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
22 - Sep 24
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Circuit Suzuka
6 - Oct 8
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
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Las Vegas Street Circuit
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Yas Marina Circuit
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Grand Prix & Circuit
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Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
26 - May 28
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Spain Circuit de Catalunya
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21 - Jul 23
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28 - Jul 30
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15 - Sep 17
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22 - Sep 24
Japan Circuit Suzuka
6 - Oct 8
Qatar Losail International Circuit
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
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AU Daniel Ricciardo 3
  • Country Australia
  • Date of b. Jul 1 1989 (34)
  • Place of b. Perth, Australia
  • Weight 64 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
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Force India
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