Horner backs FIA after Verstappen title triumph despite "emotional rollercoaster"

Red Bull team principal has praised the FIA for making the "right decisions" after the season-ending "emotional rollercoaster" at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen had his destiny in his hands after taking pole position at Yas Marina, only for Lewis Hamilton to take the lead at turn one.

Red Bull was irate when the Mercedes driver was able to keep his position after leaving the track to keep first at turn six before Hamilton took full control of the race.

With five laps to go, over 10 seconds separated the pair with Horner claiming Verstappen needed a "miracle" but Nicholas Latifi's crash triggered a safety car that saved his chances.

The Dutchman made a last-lap move on Hamilton to take the championship, sparking elation, only for the mood to be dampened by two Mercedes protests after the race.

Both, however, were thrown out allowing celebrations to resume deep into the night.

“It [was] an emotional rollercoaster," explained Horner.

"It started with a bad start, Lewis getting a great start and they had a bit more pace than us.

“They elected to do a one-stop, we went to do a two-stop and then when Latifi crashed we obviously elected to take another set of tyres.

“They got the race going again and Max had to make it count. He had one lap to do it and he nailed it.

“So the elation of that moment and then obviously the summons start coming through for the safety car and then another one for other stuff.

“It [was] a tense couple of hours but hats off to the FIA and the stewards that I believe have made the right decisions.”

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