Horner defends Marko's comments after Hadjar's crash

Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, defended Helmut Marko after his comments about rookie driver Isack Hadjar. Hadjar crashed during the formation lap of the Australian Grand Prix, visibly upset as he returned to the garage. While Lewis Hamilton's father comforted him, Marko called Hadjar's moment “embarrassing,” leading to backlash. In response, Horner emphasized Marko's age and old-school mentality. He noted that Marko, who is 82 years old, has a unique perspective based on his own racing experiences, including a serious injury that ended his career. Horner acknowledged that not everyone agrees with Marko's opinion and highlighted Hadjar's youth, stating, "He’s 20 years of age, and he's got a bright future ahead of him." Hadjar reflected on his crash, admitting it was a tough moment but one he could learn from. He compared this incident to his challenging path to Formula 1. Marko has expressed in the past the importance of moving forward after setbacks, stating he chose to not dwell on his injury.