Christian Horner ignores Michael Masi controversy, claims ‘Mercedes f*cked up’ strategy cost Lewis Hamilton the title in 2021 Abu Dhabi GP 

Lewis Hamilton controversially lost the 2021 championship on the last lap of the Abu Dhabi GP which would cost him a record-breaking eighth title.

Christian Horner ignores Michael Masi controversy, claims ‘Mercedes f*cked up’ strategy cost Lewis Hamilton the title in 2021 Abu Dhabi GP 

Christian Horner and Lewis Hamilton (Via IMAGO)

The 2021 Abu Dhabi GP to this day remains one of the most disputed moments in the history of Formula One. A controversial season finale saw Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton start side-by-side on the front row equal on points to decide the title to mark the conclusion of one of the most dramatic seasons ever.

Lewis Hamilton retained the lead from pole right up until the final part of the race when Nicholas Latifi crashed. Max Verstappen pitted during the safety car from second, coming out behind four lapped cars. However, race director Michael Masi let a few lapped cars go through, allowing Verstappen to overtake Hamilton who had tires far older than the Dutchman, handing the championship to Verstappen.

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Mercedes have long protested over the result of the Grand Prix, criticizing Michael Masi’s decision to let the lapped cars by. Masi was fired as a result of the pressure and his significant mistake in interpreting the rules. However, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes that Mercedes should have seen such a move coming and pitted Hamilton alongside Verstappen, giving them equal ground to fight on.

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Mercedes f*cked up. They left poor Lewis out there on tyres that had done pretty much most of the race and we’d pitted with Max, so he was on a fresh set of tyres. Max made the move and…
Christian Horner told Sky’s A League of Their Own gameshow (H&T: PlanetF1)

Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes were highly impacted by the results of the 2021 season, and have not fully recovered yet. The Brackley-based team could only win a single race since the controversial Abu Dhabi GP in 2021, while their rivals Red Bull Racing have won a staggering 38 of the 44 races held since.

Christian Horner advises Toto Wolff to motivate crew amid Mercedes slump

Mercedes has been struggling since ending their eight-year-long streak of dominance tragically in 2021, winning only a single race since then with George Russell. Mercedes failed to win even one race in 2023, a disappointing result for them and the first time that has occurred since the 2011 season when Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher drove for the team.

Toto Wolff and Christian Horner
Toto Wolff and Christian Horner (Via IMAGO)

The team is not happy at all with the results and the Mercedes crew is experiencing turbulent restructuring with James Vowles gone to Williams and Mike Elliott retiring. Longtime rival of the team Red Bull’s team principal Christian Horner has words of advice for Toto Wolff during this tough time for his team. Horner said Wolff should focus on motivating the crew and instill confidence in the members of the Silver Arrows.

People start questioning things in the organisation, heads drop and as a leader, you have to motivate them, you have to pick them up. It’s a totally different challenge, being at the top of the field striving to get back there.
Christian Horner said, as reported by crash.net

Christian Horner himself is heading Red Bull Racing, who has had a contrasting story to Mercedes. Red Bull have won both Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles in dominant fashion in 2022 and 2023, with their star driver Max Verstappen leading the charge to take record-breaking victories across both years.

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