Red Bull F1 boss blasts media over negative focus on the sport

Red Bull boss Christian Horner has blasted the media for focusing too much on the negativity surrounding Formula 1, rather than promoting its virtues.

Horner reacted angrily following repeated questioning over F1 racing in countries embroiled in political controversy.

F1 is set for its inaugural Russian Grand Prix this October, while Eastern European neighbour Azerbaijan has just confirmed a deal to host a race in 2016.

Russia is currently swept up in an international maelstrom surrounding the downing of a Malaysian passenger plane over Eastern Ukraine, while Azerbaijan has faced question marks over its record on human rights.

After consecutive questions about whether associating with these countries could harm the sport, Horner erupted during the FIA's official Friday afternoon press conference in Hungary.

"We're only focusing on the negativity," he said.

"When we sign up for the championship we put our faith and trust in the promoter and the FIA, and we will attend those races unless they deem it unnecessary for us to be there.

"All of you [media] will be at those races, the vast majority of you. Why? Because you're either passionate about the sport or because you earn a living out of the sport.

"I think it's wrong to make Formula 1 a political statement or subject when we are a sport.

"We should be talking about the drivers, about the spectacular racing that happened between our drivers and the Ferrari drivers at the last grand prix.

"We should be talking about what a great race it was for Lewis Hamilton to come through the grid.

"Yet all we do is focus on the negatives, and it has to be said, it gets pretty boring for us to sit up here and field these questions.

"So how about asking some questions about what's going to happen in the race on Sunday, [or] what's going to happen in qualifying tomorrow, because if you've got these questions, please point them at Mr Todt or Mr Ecclestone rather than the teams."

Force India boss Vijay Mallya agreed questions over where F1 races should be addressed to the sport's governing body.

"I don't think the teams should be holding their own individual positions to determine social, political issues," he said.

"The FIA is perfectly competent to determine where Formula 1 should be staged and not be staged."

PIRELLI: F1 SHOULD FOLLOW GOVERNMENT ADVICE

Tyre supplier Pirelli reckons Formula 1 should follow the lead of governments when it comes to deciding whether to race in politically sensitive places.

The company's motorsport boss Paul Hembery said: "It's such a complex area.

"It depends on where you're sat in the world as to your point of view on whose human rights record is better than others'.

"There are a lot of countries we go to where nobody says anything. There are a lot of people complaining bitterly about human rights behaviour of even the USA and UK.

"Our major shareholder is Rosneft (a Russian oil company), so I'm not going to tell you we're not going to Russia.

"Rosneft has a shareholder called BP (a British multinational oil company), they own 19 per cent of Rosneft.

"The whole world is interconnected these days, so there's no simple answer to political questions, and as a sport our view is that you have to follow the advice of governments in these situations.

"If we all start taking individual decisions we are going to end up in a real mess."