Red Bull team boss Christian Horner blamed Carlos Sainz of Ferrari for causing the penultimate lap crash with Sergio Perez that wrecked his team's hopes of a podium finish in Sunday's Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
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Horner said the Spaniard had drifted across the track towards Perez to cause the collision that wrecked the Mexican's race and robbed Red Bull of valuable constructors' championship points.
Heartbreaking 💔
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) September 15, 2024
But the important thing is both drivers are okay. We were so close to something special! 🥺#F1 || #AzerbaijanGP 🇦🇿 pic.twitter.com/3GPDRCaBsE
"It looked to me, just looking at the replay, like Carlos drifts across the circuit to the left-hand side," said Horner.
"It's done a huge amount of damage – a massive accident.
"So, it cost us points, crucial points, for Checo and for the constructors. So very disappointing."
The pair tangled while battling for third place behind winner Oscar Piastri of McLaren and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.
Sparks fly on the streets of Baku! 💥😱
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 15, 2024
This moment between Sainz and Perez effectively ended the race, and cost both the chance of a podium!#F1 #AzerbaijanGP pic.twitter.com/iR6UTynvpv
"He deserved a lot more," said Horner of Perez who seemed to have recovered his form after a long run in the doldrums during which he scored only 36 points in 10 races as Red Bull lost their dominant position.
Piastri's victory along with teammate Lando Norris finishing fourth lifted McLaren 20 points clear of Red Bull at the top of the teams' championship, ending the champions run of 55 races as leaders.
"He should at the very least have been on the podium today," added Horner, who suggested a penalty should be in store for Sainz at next weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.
Earlier Sainz and Perez had both declared their own innocence over the shunt.
"I honestly don’t understand what happened," said Sainz.
"I am 100 per cent convinced I did nothing wrong and did nothing over-aggressive."
Perez said: "Honestly, it is such a shame. It's a disaster for the championship and not the way to end a weekend."