Dietrich Mateschitz, according to Christian Horner, is unconcerned by the controversy surrounding the 2021 Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix, when Max Verstappen won his maiden title.
The 2021 Formula 1 championship title was decided at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix season finale, and will always go down as the most controversial season finales of the sport.
However, Red Bull boss Christian Horner claimed in an interview with RacingNews365.com, that the energy drinks outfit’s owner Dietrich Mateschitz is unconcerned with the controversial race that saw Max Verstappen snatch away the title from Lewis Hamilton in the final lap.
“No. I think there’s been so much controversy throughout the year… I think there’s been so much bad luck that we’ve had during the season that these things tend to balance themselves out,” Christian Horner said after he was asked if the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix controversy bothered his boss.
“He felt Max was very deserving. He was very proud of what he’d done and what the team had achieved,” he added.
The 2021 season was full of ups and downs over the course of the 22 races, with both Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen having their fair share of good and bad luck. The title contenders were able to balance their highs and lows up to the final race where they entered on equal points. Luck seemed to be on Hamilton’s side as he dominated the race but a late safety car changed the race outcome as Verstappen emerged on top.
“I think that it was such an epic year… It was probably the most competitive season in Formula 1 in the last 30 years, and I think, for Red Bull, for Max, for Honda, to come out on top,” Horner said.
“Yes, we got a little bit lucky with the Safety Car at the end of the race, but so much bad luck [had] gone against us throughout the season.”
“These things, I’ve always said, tend to balance themselves out over the course of a season, and I think Max, he led more than 50 percent of the laps in the year, more than every other driver combined.”
“He had more pole positions, he had more race wins, and for me he was totally deserving”
Max Verstappen became Red Bull’s second driver to win an F1 Drivers’ Championship, following Sebastian Vettel. Both drivers rose via the team’s junior driver program, which was directed by Dr. Helmut Marko.
Verstappen will begin his title defense with the Red Bull RB18 at Bahrain’s 2022 season opening on March 20. The team is yet to announce the 2022 car reveal date.
