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)
Horner enrages his counterparts at smaller teams
- Published on 24 Nov 2014 16:16
-
0
- By: Rob Veenstra
.
Trending news
-
Bortoleto says Audi chassis strong but engine costs over a second per lapGabriel Bortoleto has delivered a candid assessment of Audi's first season as a Formula 1 factory team, revealing...
23 Jun 2026 16:22 -
Why Vowles believes both drivers will commit to struggling WilliamsJames Vowles has declared his confidence that Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon will remain with Williams through 2027, eve...
23 Jun 2026 15:20 -
Why Cadillac is standing firmly behind Sergio PérezSergio Pérez is receiving strong backing from Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon, who has praised the Mexic...
23 Jun 2026 14:19 -
Why Antonelli refuses to be called 'the new Senna'Andrea Kimi Antonelli has pushed back against early comparisons to Ayrton Senna, despite a strong rookie campaign wit...
23 Jun 2026 13:17 -
Former Ferrari driver fears Hamilton has broken Leclerc's confidenceCharles Leclerc is facing a crisis of confidence at Ferrari, according to former Scuderia driver René Arnoux, ...
23 Jun 2026 12:15
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
Test calendar
Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
-
Jan 26
I. Hadjar
- 1:18.159
-
-
-
Jan 27
M. Verstappen
- 1:19.578
-
-
-
Jan 28
A. Antonelli
- 1:17.362
-
-
-
Jan 29
G. Russell
- 1:16.445
-
-
-
Jan 30
L. Hamilton
- 1:16.348
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
-
-
-
Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
-
-
-
Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
-
-
Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
-
-
Feb 20
C. Leclerc
- 1:31.992
-
-
World Championship standings 2026
Pos
Driver
Team
Points
Pos
Team
Points
Related news
Give your opinion!
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
Austria
Red Bull Ring
Driver profile
- Team Visa Cash App RB
- Points 1,061
- Podiums 24
- Grand Prix 188
- Country AU
- Date of b. Jul 1 1989 (36)
- Place of b. Perth, AU
- Weight 64 kg
- Length 1.75 m
- 190,930 comments on Visa Cash App RB
24 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Daniel Ricciardo
Team profile
- Team name Lotus F1
- Base Enstone, United Kingdom
- Daniel Ricciardo 3
- Kimi Räikkönen 7
- Romain Grosjean 8
- Kimi Räikkönen 9
- Romain Grosjean 10
- Pastor Maldonado 13
- Pastor Maldonado 13
- Kevin Magnussen 20
- Nico Hülkenberg 27
- Jolyon Palmer 30
- Esteban Ocon 31
- Carlos Sainz jr 55
- 65,124 comments on Lotus F1
- 16 members have this team as their favourite
- Tweets about Lotus F1
Replies (0)
Login to reply