Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has stepped in to defend Helmut Marko after the veteran advisor drew criticism for calling Isack Hadjar’s emotional reaction to a crash “embarrassing.”
Hadjar, the 20-year-old Racing Bulls rookie, crashed during the formation lap of his Formula 1 debut in Australia.
He was visibly shaken, wiping away tears in the garage. While Lewis Hamilton’s father, Anthony, was seen offering support, Marko took a very different stance, dismissing the moment with a comment many found out of step with today’s sporting culture.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 in China, Horner addressed the backlash by pointing to Marko’s background and generation. “Look, Helmut’s 82 years of age. He’s old school. He’s a guy who lost an eye and pulled over the car and just turned the engine off. He will always have his own opinion, which he has the right to. Does everybody share that opinion? No,” Horner said.
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Marko’s own career ended after a dramatic incident at the 1972 French Grand Prix, where a stone pierced his visor and blinded him in one eye. Despite losing consciousness shortly after, he managed to pull the car off track.
He has since described that moment as a turning point, saying he decided not to spend the rest of his life complaining, but instead to move forward.
Horner also took a moment to show support for Hadjar, reminding everyone just how young and new to the sport the Frenchman is. “It was very sad to see him that upset. No doubt his team have got around him, but you forget how young they are. He’s 20 years of age, and he’s got a bright future ahead of him. He’ll be fine.”
Hadjar himself accepted responsibility for the crash and spoke honestly about how tough the experience was.
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“I’ve had similar moments, low moments like this. This one is tough, but my way to F1 was also quite brutal. I would say I have a strong chin, but this one definitely hits pretty hard,” he admitted.
What do you think? Was Marko’s comment out of line and lacking in empathy, or was it fair and fitting given the world of elite motorsport?
