Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner says Max Verstappen was due some luck at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after the Dutchman claimed his first F1 title on Sunday.
Verstappen dramatically overtook Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the race, having been given the opportunity following a late Safety Car period.
Mercedes expressed its frustration with the restart procedure, lodging a protest post-race. The protest was dismissed, and Mercedes has signalled its intent to appeal the Stewards’ decision.
Horner believes a majority of the calls from the Stewards have gone against Red Bull this year, including an incident at the start of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that saw Hamilton take to the escape road to avoid contact with Verstappen.
“I think we felt the decision at the beginning of the race went against us and the decision at the end of the race was right,” Horner said.
“It has been a season like that, there has been marginal calls, some we have benefited from and the majority we have lost out on.
“Max was finally due a bit of luck and Latifi causing that safety car just gave us the opportunity and after Silverstone, Budapest and Azerbaijan, he felt his luck wasn’t with him today he had a bit of luck, it came at the right time and he had to make it happen.”
Horner defended Race Director Michael Masi, who came under scrutiny by some for how he handled the restart procedure.
“I think he made the right decision,” Horner said. “He followed the rules procedure if you look at the rules available to him and he’s made the right call today.
“We felt he’d made the wrong at the beginning of the race – or the stewards made the wrong call – when Lewis didn’t give any time back, but I think it’s tough for them in difficult circumstances.
“We’ve always discussed throughout about ‘Let them race’ and about getting the races re-going, and he’s done that today. I think it was an exciting finale for all the fans to this world championship.”
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