Two F1 stars called out for being 'very sensitive' and refusing Sky Sports request

Lance Stroll and Christian Horner have been called out for their "very sensitive" nature ahead of next weekend's Austrian Grand Prix. Aston Martin star Stroll is 12th in this season's Drivers' Championship standings, while Red Bull team principal Horner has been unable to halt his team's slide this year.

Stroll has raced for Aston Martin since 2019 after his father Lawrence bought the defunct Force India assets and twice rebranded the team. The 26-year-old has never finished above 10th in the end-of-season standings and had a meltdown at the Spanish Grand Prix at the start of June as he broke items in the team garage and swore at staff. Horner, meanwhile, has become one of the most famous faces in F1 and helped Max Verstappen enjoy a spell of dominance that saw the Dutchman win four consecutive titles between 2021 and 2024.

Stroll was spotted chewing gum during the media session ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix last weekend, with Sky Sports analyst Ralf Schumacher calling the actions "a bit disrespectful."

And Sky Sports Germany reporter Peter Hardenacke has claimed that Aston Martin have refused to sanction a one-on-one interview with Stroll.

"Also for the Canadian Grand Prix, that request was made. It was declined," Hardenacke told the Boxengasse podcast. "And then you have to accept that people talk about you. That's not insulting or hurting someone, those are objective opinions."

The reporter then turned his attention to Horner as he added: "At Red Bull, it's the same. There's also a very sensitive team principal (Horner) in recent months.

"But if there's criticism, you can also have a one-on-one talk, to discuss it. That too has been requested. Often, that then doesn't happen."

Horner was said to have been angered by Schumacher after the German suggested that Verstappen had attempted to sabotage his own race when he collided with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix.

The Red Bull chief turned down an interview with Sky Sports that same weekend after co-commentator Nico Rosberg had called for the Dutchman to be disqualified in the aftermath of the incident.

And shaking his head as he discussed Schumacher's assessment at the time, Horner said: "This theory is utter nonsense. I haven't heard anything so stupid in a long time. Max is a racer through and through. He always wants to win and would never act like that."

But Schumacher has previously defended his assessments of Red Bull as he recently stated: "Often it's the translation, or something's been taken out of context."