As Christian Horner suggests the need for a Charlie Whiting at the helm, Helmut Marko effectively accuses the FIA of bias.

In many ways it was like one of those Friday night scraps of days gone by, all that was missing was the cries of "leave him alone, he's not worth it", "oh, you want some then?" and "come on then, if you think you're hard enough".

Rather than the on-track shenanigans, the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will also be remembered for the battles over the airwaves as drivers, team bosses and (un)sporting directors argued with each other and race director, Michael Masi.

At one point, Masi could be heard bargaining with Red Bull whilst attempting to placate Mercedes, only to subsequently almost give up as he sounded to be buckling under the pressure.

Meanwhile, social media was already alight, with fans demanding a firm hand to take control, and at race end, Christian Horner agreed.

"I've said it for too long, we're over-regulated," insisted Horner, whose title hopeful was handed two time penalties over the course of the evening.

"There's rules about ten car lengths," he added, referring to Max Verstappen's claim that ahead of the second restart Lewis Hamilton was purposely dropping back behind 'pole man Max Verstappen, "but the formation lap isn't a formation lap if it's a restart.

"It feels like there are too many rules," he sighed. "It felt like today the sport missed Charlie Whiting," he continued. "I am sorry to say but the experience he had.

"It's obviously frustrating but it's difficult for Michael and the stewards, particularly at this type of venue and this type of circuit with the amount of debris and the types of corners there are but it's the same for everybody.

"I think it was a tough race for them to manage today," he admitted. Obviously there was a lot of debris. "There was obviously a lot of traffic backwards and forwards with race control over the various different incidents and then safety cars, virtual safety cars, restarts and obviously it was difficult to keep track of.

"I think there were many lessons out of that race that will be discussed at length over the coming weeks," he added. "Obviously, every decision pretty much went against us today as they did in Doha a couple of weeks ago, then we saw two incidents yesterday, it's been variable to say the least."

Meanwhile, Helmut Marko, never one to fear speaking his mind effectively accused the FIA of bias.

Speaking ahead of the investigation into the notorious 'brake testing incident', at which the stewards deemed Verstappen had indeed "braked suddenly and significantly", Marko was having none of it.

"Our engineers are preparing, we can prove Max was constant with his braking, he didn't brake test like Hamilton said," insisted Marko, according to Autosport. "Then he crashed into our car, he unfortunately put two cuts in the rear tyre. That was so severe that we couldn't attack anymore. We had to take speed out.

"That was the one thing," he continued. "The next thing was at the second start, Hamilton was more than ten car lengths behind (the safety car), Vettel got penalised in Budapest when he did it. But with this manoeuvre he (Hamilton) was preparing his tyre better for the start. Then he pushed Max off... no reaction.

"We feel we are not treated the same," he said of the FIA. "It's a very one-sided decision-making here."

Asked if he feels Verstappen has reverted to his 'old ways' and is becoming too aggressive and simply needs to 'cool down', Marko replied: "I don't think there is any reason why he should cool down.

"It's the match between Mercedes and Red Bull, and the match between Max and Lewis. Just remember what happened in Silverstone, what's happened in Budapest. Don't forget that."

So that's a no then Helmut.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by ClarkwasGod, 07/12/2021 19:48

"Whinger Spice should think first before spouting - Charlie Whiting would have reamed him and Marko new assholes, and would have, long ago put a stop to Verstappen's on-track antics."

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2. Posted by equator180, 07/12/2021 10:35

"Marco should be careful what he says it may get some of the Socially Active Fronts supported and groomed by the FIA upset and the FIA wouldn't like that seeing as they are so careful in their political selections these days"

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3. Posted by Hobgoblin, 07/12/2021 8:48

"@Batman - I think they would protest that other cars are using wings."

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4. Posted by Batman, 06/12/2021 18:00

"Red Bull's suspicions about Mercedes' flexible wings are now cleared up. Now they may consider protesting the wings that seem too much stiff."

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5. Posted by Defiant, 06/12/2021 16:49

"You know what they say.... 'the empty can rattles the most". pretty accurate for Helmut"

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6. Posted by Tardis40, 06/12/2021 13:13

"The favoritism hamilton is shown is ridiculous. He ignores yellow flags and nothing happens. Max pulls an excellent overtake and is ordered to give the place back.

What's next?"

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7. Posted by Spindoctor, 06/12/2021 12:16 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 06/12/2021 15:03)

"Verstappen is an outstanding talent, but he is also excessively aggressive & displays a degree of "entitlement" common to those brought-up with wealth & influence. Marko, Horner Coulthard et al keep massaging his ego & excusing his mistakes & folly. Just how long can they laud his undoubted speed & ability without dealing with his failings & foibles?
Hamilton had the benefit of being mentored & supported by Ron Dennis who was utterly focused on winning through excellence and was not known for massaging his drivers' egos. He may have talked unintelligible "Ronspeak" to the Media but was direct in real life.

Verstappen has unquestionably the fastest car this year on most tracks, including this one, and should be 30 points at least ahead in the championship. Instead, as a consequence of over-aggressive & sometimes dangerous driving, he is neck & neck with the old guy in the slower car.
People compare this aggressive & "ruthless" driving style with Senna. I consider that to be an insult to the memory of a great driver who usually managed to avoid unnecessary contact through superior skill & tactics. His moves often looked "aggressive", but mostly came off, too many of Verstappen's don't.

If he can control his desire to be "brilliant" all the time, all he has to do is be fast & clean & he's got a great chance to win the Championship, but increasingly it seems that when under pressure he reverts to his younger self's style."

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8. Posted by Stitch431, 06/12/2021 11:58

"And Helmut is right. In case Lewis wins the championship, Lewis should give the trophy to Masi, as he won it for him. Unfair and un-square."

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9. Posted by jcr, 06/12/2021 11:38

"Netflix TV, Nothing else.
"

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10. Posted by pap_pap_c, 06/12/2021 11:04

"I came here this morning expecting to read something like this. These two are toxic and predictable."

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11. Posted by Redphyve, 06/12/2021 11:03

"Can we just call Dieter Mateschitz and let him know that Uncle Helmut needs to be taken home? Or to a nursing home? And for the time being let's put him in a chair, drape a blanket across his knees, give him a mid-strength beer and tune the tv to Gold?

Then can we get the FIA to create a championship for Red Bull that only they can enter with whatever car they like and in every country they visit, pick drivers from F3, and select the stewards and the Race Director. Then let the rest of the teams race without the constant whinging, whining and protestations of bias and unfair treatment?

I mean seriously? They are genuinely the most toxic team in the paddock and have ruined one of the most exciting talents to hit F1 in years. They allow him his excesses, excuse his mistakes and overly-aggressive driving, fuel his ego and self-belief to a point where he genuinely thinks he is above reproach or censure.

I am tired of the lot of them. Honestly."

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12. Posted by Italian Job, 06/12/2021 9:42

"To clarify:
my comment on sanity/wisdom is purely in relation to Horner's remarks quoted here."

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13. Posted by Italian Job, 06/12/2021 9:36

"Words of sanity/wisdom from Christian Horner, publicity seeking grumpiness from his puppeteer!"

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14. Posted by Hobgoblin, 06/12/2021 9:19 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 06/12/2021 15:03)

"Horner post Silverstone: "he ran wide. If you look at the overhead, he's run wide into the corner. He's carried too much speed.
"That move was never on," he continued. "Lewis is a world champion of seven titles. That was an amateur's mistake and a desperate mistake.

Yet when Max does the same (Monza, Brazil, Jeddah twice), it's just racing."

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15. Posted by equator180, 06/12/2021 9:07

"I am neither British nor Dutch but do believe Marco has a valid point."

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Horner and Marko hit out at race officials

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