Horner hits back at Vasseur over Red Bull penalty criticism

Christian Horner has dismissed Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur's claim that Red Bull's stunning start to the new Formula 1 season has proven the team's budget cap breach punishment was weak.

Red Bull was given a $7 million fine and a 10 percent reduction in aerodynamic testing time for its minor breach of the $145 million cap set for 2021, with discontent from rivals at what was perceived as an underwhelming penalty.

Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez have enjoyed a dominant start to the new campaign, securing three pole positions and three wins from three races between them, with Aston Martin the nearest challenger but some way off the pace.

But the command exuded by Red Bull left Vasseur unimpressed with the penalty handed to the World Championship-winning constructor, with the Frenchman "still convinced the penalty was very light".

'Hugely premature'

Offering a response to his counterpart, Horner told Sky Sports: "Everybody's got an opinion and I think everybody's free to have an opinion.

"The team have done a great job over the winter on limited wind-tunnel time that we've had to develop this car, and of course, that will have an impact later into the year and on next year.

"So on a snapshot of three races, I think it's still hugely premature in (terms of) this season, there's an awful lot of racing still to go."