Christian Horner has expressed disappointment at the booing directed at Max Verstappen during Formula One's F175 launch event in London last week.
The Red Bull team principal said he was unhappy with the "barrage of booing" that greeted the four-time world champion at the O2 Arena.
Both Verstappen and Horner were met with jeers from the 16,000-strong crowd when they were introduced at the event.
It led to Verstappen's father, Jos, insisting that his son will refuse to take part in media events in the United Kingdom in a furious outburst.
Max Verstappen was loudly booed last week in London and Christian Horner was not happy
Reuters
Speaking at pre-season testing in Bahrain, Horner acknowledged Red Bull's role in the sport.
"Of course we have been the protagonists over the years," he said.
"The only disappointment I had with it was the reception to Max as a four-time world champion, that was disappointing."
Horner accepted that passion runs high in Formula One but felt Verstappen had not deserved such a response.
Horner compared the situation to "launching your away strip in a home fans' stadium" at the Bahrain testing.
"Fans will always back the teams and drivers they want to," he explained.
The FIA later issued a statement condemning what it described as a "tribalist reaction" at the event.
JUST IN: Didier Drogba fiercely defends former manager Jose Mourinho amid racism row
The governing body called for fans to treat all F1 participants with respect.
McLaren, in contrast, were received with enthusiastic cheering at the London launch.
Horner acknowledged the changing nature of Formula One's fanbase in recent years.
"The fans are the DNA of the sport and the fandom has changed over the last few years as we have been welcoming more diverse fans to the sport," he said.
"Sport is polarising and competitive, any sport in the world fans are passionate – they support their drivers, they support their teams, you can't dictate that."
McLaren boss Zak Brown offered a contrasting view on the crowd's reaction.
READ MORE:Rory McIlroy speaks on divorce debacle for first time and admits wife Erica Stoll's biggest wish
Red Bull were loudly booed by fans at the F1 event but other teams received warm welcomes
Reuters
"I've never been to a sporting event that has been quiet," Brown said.
"Sport brings out passion in fans, they cheer and they boo."
The McLaren principal, whose team received loud cheers at the event, defended the fans robustly.
"Cheering and booing has been part of sport for ever, that's what fans do, they yell at their TV," he added.
Brown dismissed concerns about the booing, stating he "didn't think there was anything visceral or violent" about the fans' reaction.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Christian Horner hit out at the boos in London for his Red Bull team
Reuters
"I didn't hear anything other than cheering and booing. I have seen a lot worse on social media," he said.
Horner suggested the reception would have been different elsewhere.
"If the launch would have been in Holland, no doubt the reception would have been somewhat different," he noted.
Horner clarified that the FIA's statement condemning the booing was not requested by Red Bull.
"They made their own comments on it. It was nothing that we, certainly, asked for," he said.
"I didn't have any conversation with the FIA following the event."
He added that the statement was part of the governing body's "campaign to stamp out online abuse."
