“Niki Lauda was the guy that pushed hard for it” – Horner Defends Controversial Abu Dhabi F1 Finish

This may not be the ending that the 2021 season deserved, but this is the ending we were expecting. Mercedes lodged two protests in the manner the race and the championship ended. But Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is adamant that the FIA and the stewards made the right decision.

Earlier in the race, Horner was not happy with the FIA’s decision to not investigate the Lap 1 battle between Max and Lewis. But he was happy that the stewards redeemed themselves by allowing a last-lap shootout at the end of the race.

WATCH STORY: Mad Max: Verstappen’s Angriest Rants on Team Radio

We never wanted to end up in front of the stewards: Christian Horner

As reported by Express.co.uk, the Red Bull team boss was disappointed that Mercedes ran to the stewards to complain about the decision. He also mentioned that late Niki Lauda always advocated the theory of letting drivers race.

Christian Horner: “We never wanted to end up in front of the stewards. We don’t go racing with barristers. It was a shame it ended up there but the stewards made the right call.” 1/2

— Andrew Benson (@andrewbensonf1) December 12, 2021

” We never wanted to end up in front of the stewards. There was obviously a lot of debate before the race but, as it turned out, it was obviously very different after the race.

But we don’t go racing with barristers, and so on. It was a shame that it ended up there, but the stewards made the right call.” said Horner.

Formula One F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – December 10, 2021, Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner talks in the team principals press conference FIA/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

“We’ve talked about let them race. You know, Niki Lauda was the guy that pushed hard for it. And we’ve always talked about not finishing races under safety cars. The race director, in difficult circumstances, made absolutely the right call today.

And, you know, strategically we got it right.” concluded Horner.

Niki Lauda was influential in bringing Lewis Hamilton to Mercedes from McLaren in 2013. He was also a three-time F1 world champion and was an advocate for drivers fighting it out on the track.

Although the FIA decided to let the drivers race, the manner in which it was achieved is still debatable. With Mercedes going down the appeal route, is there a final twist in the 2021 season?

READ MORE: Why did F1 Ban Refueling?

The post “Niki Lauda was the guy that pushed hard for it” – Horner Defends Controversial Abu Dhabi F1 Finish appeared first on EssentiallySports.