Red Bull "screaming" at FIA during controversial end to season - Christian Horner

Safety car, Abu Dhabi — Photo: © LAT Images

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

1 reactie

Red Bull "screaming" at FIA during controversial end to season - Horner

Verstappen ended as champion after a last-lap overtake on Hamilton

Ewan Gale

Sunday 12 December 2021 17:10

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has revealed the pit wall was "screaming" at FIA race director Michael Masi to remove lapped cars from between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton for the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Verstappen emerged as world champion after a controversial end to the grand prix following a safety car period triggered by Nicholas Latifi's crash at turn 14.

Masi originally instructed that backmarkers would remain behind the safety car before changing the decision half a lap from the restart, although only five of the lapped drivers were allowed through.

Article continues under video

With just one lap to go, Verstappen used his fresher soft tyres to dive to the inside of Hamilton into turn five, the move that clinched the championship.

"That just about sums up this year I think," said Horner, speaking to Sky Sports F1.

"I think I called it on the commentary that we needed something from the racing gods in the last ten laps.

"Thank you Nicholas Latifi for that safety car. I have to say with the stewards, we felt hard done by at the beginning of the race but they did great to get the race going again.

"It has been an insane competition and for Max to win the world championship - it is not just about here.

"I have to say all credit to Lewis, he has been a phenomenal opponent all year, he is a great champion and that is what makes it even more valid to win this."

On his radio communication with race director Masi, where he could be heard asking why lapped cars were being allowed to remain in place, Horner added: "We were screaming at him 'let them race'.

"That is what we have been talking about all these years 'let them race' and this championship came down to the last lap and a great strategy call to make that pit stop and take that set of softs.

"Then it was down to Max to make that happen."