Christian Horner, the Red Bull Racing team boss has recently criticised McLaren F1’s way of voting approach to the FIA. Horner feels the way of approach that the British giants has taken is utterly “shameful.”
Zak Brown, the McLaren boss attempted for an immediate switch to the secret ballot for the next F1 votes. Brown feels it will be in favour of all the teams to vote without feeling pressurized in a certain way.
Teams like Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull has the advantage over the teams like Aston Martin, Haas and Alpha Tauri as they provide engines to these teams. So, there comes a possibility as to why there is certain kind of pressure from the former teams to the latter ones.
Great to be with the team here in Portugal. Some good work on track today to prepare us for Quali tomorrow. #PortugueseGP pic.twitter.com/mvfxehuXfG
— Zak Brown (@ZBrownCEO) April 30, 2021
Horner in an interview in Portimao regarding this context, conveyed, “I heard about that and I can only assume it’s because of pressure applied from the supplier, If that is the case, it is a shame. McLaren are one of the most historic teams in Formula 1, they’ve always had a big voice.”
McLaren’s Secret Ballot appeal is a shameful affair, thinks Horner
The 47-year-old Briton further asserted on this, “It would be a shame to need to go behind a secret ballot, but a team has a right to request that. If that’s what it needs to take independent votes, then we don’t have a major issue with it,”
McLaren started using Mercedes powered engine from 2021 after shifting from Renault last season. A sense of dominance grew over the teams that supplies engine to other teams, Zak feels.
Zak Brown, the McLaren CEO taking a casual walk with McLaren’s Formula One drivers Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo. (Image courtesy: Getty Images)
However, Mercedes AMG chief Toto Wolff thinks differently and stated, “You have seen in the past that Toro Rosso has voted like Red Bull, probably without any exceptions, and Haas has gone the Ferrari way. In our case, we have never tried to influence a team”
The FIA and Formula One management are yet to take a decision on it.
