The FIA's race director Michael Masi has rebuked all of Christian Horner's complaints after the Red Bull principal voiced his displeasure at how the rules regarding track limits had destabilized his team's efforts in 2021. At the end of the Portuguese Grand Prix, it appeared as if Max Verstappen had secured a bonus point for Red Bull after setting the race's fastest lap. Unfortunately for the Dutchman, his lap time was deleted after it was deemed that he had exceeded track limits. After listening to Horner voice his displeasure , FIA director Masi has addressed each of the Red Bull team principal's concerns from the weekend. "Following a review of what happened on Friday in particular, turn 14 was being used far more," Masi told RacingNews365.com among others. "It wasn’t an issue in 2020 but became one in 2021. So as a result I gave all the drivers the latitude to use the red and white kerb at that corner in a similar manner to turn five. "However they were told that if they gained a lasting advantage out of each of those (by) overtaking a car, (being) faster in a mini sector, whatever it may have been that it will be looked at. “Having looked at it post-race, it’s very clear that Max was off the track (and) that he was faster in that mini-sector than anyone and as a result got the fastest lap of the race, which is a world championship point. "There were a number of lap times that were deleted during the race. Also, there were a few that were deleted during qualifying. And obviously we had a greater number – where there was less of an impact – during the practice sessions, that were deleted. "So I think that shows that we were policing the track limits for everyone equally. In addition, it was consistent with the manner in which the event notes were portrayed, particularly the additional version three that went out on Saturday morning, and that was following the discussion at the drivers’ meeting about what would and wouldn’t be tolerated. Masi also addressed the issue regarding Sergio Perez and Lando Norris, where the Mexican driver felt he was overtaken by the Englishman in an unfair manner. "That was actually reported by Red Bull during the race and was reviewed and no, Lando did not overtake Sergio at turn four outside of the track," Masi explained. "It was a passing maneuver under brakes into turn five at the end of a DRS zone.”
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