The controversy surrounding the reception given to Red Bull Racing, Christian Horner and Max Verstappen at Formula One’s big season-opening event at the end of February continues to attract attention. The resounding boos and whistles from the crowd at London’s O2 Arena have sparked debate, and now former F1 team boss Guenther Steiner has weighed in with what some are calling a bizarre explanation for the backlash against the reigning champions.

The atmosphere at the event, which served as a grand showcase for the new F1 car liveries, was largely positive. Fans cheered as the teams unveiled their cars for next season. But the mood changed dramatically when Red Bull Racing, Verstappen and team principal Christian Horner made their entrance. The cheers turned to jeers as a chorus of boos and whistles echoed throughout the venue.

It was an unwelcome reception for Red Bull. Verstappen and his camp were reportedly so unhappy that they later hinted at the possibility of boycotting similar events in the future. But according to Steiner, the fans’ reaction wasn’t necessarily a personal attack, but rather a fleeting social trend.

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Passing trend…

“I think it’s a bit fashionable at the moment to boo Christian Horner and Red Bull,” Steiner told ESPN’s Unlapped podcast. His explanation suggested the hostility was more about following the crowd than any deep-seated resentment.

“I don’t think it was meant to be malicious. It was just a bit of fun.”

Steiner admitted he couldn’t say for sure whether the boos were meant to be taken seriously. But he did admit that they did not go down well with Red Bull, recalling that the team were visibly unhappy with the reception.

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Steiner urges F1 to move on

The former Haas team principal dismissed the idea that Red Bull and Horner were being targeted for any serious reason. Instead, he described the backlash as something of a temporary phenomenon – one that the fans are simply taking in their stride for the time being.

“It’s a bit of a trend, everyone is following it,” he remarked.

From Steiner’s perspective, the whole controversy should be ignored rather than amplified. He argued that dwelling on the booing would only fuel the negativity and keep the issue alive. That’s why he was critical of the FIA’s decision to issue a statement condemning the crowd’s reaction, suggesting that the governing body was overreacting.

“They shouldn’t take it as seriously as everyone else,” Steiner concluded. “I think people are overreacting and the more they do, the more it happens.”

In his view, the animosity towards Red Bull is not a permanent feature of the sport.

“Red Bull is not the favourite of many fans at the moment,” he admitted. “But this is just a snapshot in time. In two years it might be someone else. That’s the emotion and passion you need in this sport.”

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Why is Red Bull facing more fan backlash now?

Red Bull’s dominance in recent years, particularly Verstappen’s record-breaking run, has certainly played a role in shaping public opinion. While success often breeds admiration, it can also lead to fatigue among fans who crave a more competitive championship.

The lack of a serious title challenger over the past two seasons has led to frustration among some fans, which may explain some of the reaction in London.

But there’s another layer to the situation – one that goes beyond on-track performance. The team has been embroiled in controversy, particularly surrounding Horner, who has been the subject of an internal investigation within Red Bull Racing. While the details remain largely undisclosed, the headlines have put the team principal under increased scrutiny and further fuelled divisions among fans.

Red Bull’s status as a dominant force in F1 also invites criticism, a fate that has befallen many powerhouse teams in the past. Ferrari in the early 2000s, Mercedes in the hybrid era – every dominant team has experienced a period when their success was met with hostility rather than celebration.

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British culture misunderstood?

Booing is an integral part of British spectator culture, rooted in centuries-old traditions of public entertainment. Unlike in some cultures, where jeering is seen as a sign of deep hostility, in Britain it often carries an element of playfulness, theatricality and public engagement.

One of the clearest examples of this is pantomime, a popular form of stage entertainment that thrives on audience participation. In these performances, the audience is actively encouraged to cheer the hero and loudly boo the villain. This ritual is not only expected but seen as part of the fun, reinforcing the idea that public figures – fictional or real – are fair game for audience reaction.

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Audience interaction rooted in a cynical sense of humour

This culture of vocal engagement has long since extended beyond the theatre to other public arenas, including sport. British football stadiums, for example, are renowned for their boisterous crowds, where chanting, heckling and even ironic cheering are commonplace.

Supporters will often jeer rival teams, players or even their own club’s management for poor performances. This is not necessarily done out of malice, but rather reflects a deeply ingrained British tendency to interact with public figures in a direct and sometimes mocking manner.

It is an extension of the nation’s sharp-witted, sometimes cynical sense of humour, where those in the spotlight – be they athletes, politicians or even royalty – are expected to take public criticism on the chin.

Further, other sports entertainment has seen similar behaviour such as wrestling, boxing and martial arts.

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Other theatres that has been subject to ‘booing’

This tradition has also found its way into politics, particularly in the adversarial setting of the House of Commons, where MPs jeer and heckle their opponents during debates. The British public has also taken this approach to major political events, with public figures who fall out of favour often facing vocal disapproval at public meetings, state functions and even live television debates.

The famous booing of former Prime Minister Tony Blair at the Labour Party conference in 2000 and the hostile reception of politicians at public events during the Brexit discussions are prime examples of how this element of British culture extends beyond mere entertainment.

In modern times, this form of audience participation has spread to Formula 1 and other sports, where fans see it as their right to express their feelings about dominant figures, controversial decisions or perceived unfairness.

The booing of Red Bull Racing and Christian Horner at the recent F1 launch event is not necessarily about deep-seated animosity, but is in many ways an evolution of this theatrical British tradition – one where those in power or at the top are always met with both admiration and opposition.

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Will the booing continue?

Steiner’s suggestion that this is a passing trend may not be far from the truth. The sport has always been emotionally charged, with fans passionately expressing their views on drivers and teams. If Red Bull’s stranglehold on the championship loosens in the coming years, or if another controversy arises elsewhere in the paddock, the focus could shift away from them.

But whether the booing is “just a bit of fun”, as Steiner claims, depends on your perspective.

For Verstappen, Horner and the rest of Red Bull Racing, the crowd’s reaction was anything but jovial. The suggestion of a possible boycott shows that they are taking it seriously.

As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Red Bull to see how they deal with the scrutiny. Will they shrug off the negativity, as Steiner suggests, or will tensions continue to escalate? One thing is certain: as long as they remain at the top, they’ll have to deal with admiration and opposition in equal measure.

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