Horner: Alonso and Hamilton would have defied team orders too
Christian Horner argued that top Formula One drivers such as Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton would have acted as Sebastian Vettel did in Malaysia, prioritising victory over instructions.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has defended Sebastian Vettel’s decision to ignore team orders at the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix, insisting that other top drivers including Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton would have done the same in pursuit of victory.
The controversy erupted after Vettel passed team-mate Mark Webber for the win at Sepang despite clear instructions to hold position, using the now-infamous ‘Multi-21’ code. Webber, who was leading at the time, was left furious by the move, and the incident has continued to dominate F1 headlines more than a week later.
Horner’s defence of Vettel
Horner told Brazilian outlet Totalrace that Vettel’s actions were not unique among elite drivers. He argued that champions do not build their careers by being "submissive", and that drivers like Alonso and Hamilton would also have ignored team orders if they saw a chance to win. Horner said both Red Bull drivers had previously failed to follow instructions, suggesting that the issue is not limited to Vettel alone.
Red Bull’s coded instructions, Multi-21 and Multi-12, were intended to clarify which driver should lead when team orders were issued. Horner admitted that both Vettel and Webber had ignored these messages in recent races, leading the team to consider abandoning the code system altogether. "It’s not that difficult to translate but both our drivers in the last three races have failed to understand both of those messages," Horner told Sky. "I think we’re going to give up on that code. We need to probably try something else."
Team orders and championship mentality
Vettel’s decision has reignited the debate over the role of team orders in Formula One. Horner’s view is that the most successful drivers are those who seize opportunities, even if it means crossing the line with team management. He placed Vettel’s actions in the context of a wider pattern among top-level competitors, rather than an isolated case of insubordination.
Vettel later apologised to Webber and the Red Bull team for his actions, but the incident has exposed underlying tensions within the team. The fallout has raised questions about trust between team-mates and the effectiveness of team management in controlling star drivers. For more on Vettel’s apology, see Vettel Admits Fault After Ignoring Team Orders in Malaysia.
Implications for Red Bull and Formula One
The Sepang incident has put Red Bull’s driver management under scrutiny, with some questioning whether the team can maintain harmony between its two race winners. Horner’s comments suggest that as long as teams employ drivers with a championship mindset, enforcing team orders will remain a challenge. The episode has also prompted discussion across the paddock about whether team orders should be more strictly enforced or abandoned altogether.
The events in Malaysia have already become a touchstone for the ongoing debate about driver autonomy and team strategy in Formula One. As the season continues, the relationship between Vettel and Webber, and Red Bull’s approach to managing its drivers, will remain under close observation.
