Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has revealed an incredibly classy moment involving Lewis Hamilton, following the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The 2021 season finale will forever be remembered as one of the most historic and controversial races in Formula 1, with ex-race director Michael Masi having effectively decided who won the Drivers’ Championship.
As well known, Hamilton was on-track to claim an unprecedented eighth title, whilst Max Verstappen was set to fall narrowly short.
However, Masi’s incorrect handling of a late Safety Car changed everything and resulted in Verstappen winning the race and claiming his first Drivers’ Championship as a result.
Want to work in Formula 1? Browse the latest F1 job vacancies
Masi was later dropped from the role of F1 race director with an investigation by the FIA determining that he made a ‘human error’.
Hamilton and Mercedes were speechless after the race and understandably so given the circumstances.
Despite his obvious sense of shock and disbelief, Hamilton still had the class to shake Horner’s hand afterwards, something the Red Bull boss praised him for.
“I felt the way that Lewis handled that disappointment after the race, hats off to him. Because he would have been even more disappointed,” Horner told Sky Sports.
“Record-breaking World Championship has just disappeared but he handled himself with dignity and respect. I shook his hand in the driver’s room after the race and he had the good grace to say well done.”
Whilst Horner praised Hamilton, he hit out at the Silver Arrows’ strategists, who he believes cost the 39-year-old the title.
READ: Max Verstappen loses key sponsor
Horner believes Mercedes left Hamilton “hugely exposed” to Verstappen and that it was wrong to be “defensive” due to their pace advantage that weekend.
“A lot is made about the final lap,” Horner continued. “But Mercedes went into that race and they were quicker than us. In the Grand Prix, Lewis was able to manage the gap to Max pretty comfortably but then they went very defensive, they went very conservative.
“They left Lewis out on a set of tyres that were 43 laps old so he was only ever a Safety Car [away from being] hugely exposed. I think in being defensive, they exposed themselves to the situation that unfolded.”