Former Red Bull Formula 1 team boss Christian Horner has openly admitted that his respect for Lewis Hamilton elevated significantly following the Briton's remarkable reaction to losing the dramatic 2021 world championship showdown in Abu Dhabi. The 2021 season finale remains etched in motorsport history as one of the most fiercely debated and controversial moments the championship has ever faced, drawing intense global attention from fans and pundits alike.
At the time, Lewis Hamilton was cruising toward securing a record-breaking eighth world title before a late safety car deployment condensed the pack for a frantic final-lap sprint to the checkered flag. Former race director Michael Masi's controversial decision to allow only a select group of cars to unlap themselves put Max Verstappen directly on the gearbox of the Mercedes driver, equipped with much fresher tyres for the crucial restart.
Max Verstappen capitalized on the opportunity to execute a decisive overtake and claim his maiden world title, sparking a wave of ongoing discussions and polarized opinions across the entire motorsport community. Reflecting on those final moments during a recent appearance on the High Performance podcast, Christian Horner detailed the immense pressure of that dramatic last lap and how it ultimately shifted his perspective on his fierce rival.
Recalling the decisive move, Horner stated, What happened, happened. He made the pass at a corner that perhaps Lewis didn’t expect, rather than at the end of the straight, before successfully holding on to win the race amid an eruption of mixed positive and negative emotions from fans worldwide.
Paying tribute to the sportsmanship displayed in the aftermath, Horner praised the driver's composure during what must have been an exceptionally painful ordeal. Horner added, And I have to say full credit to Lewis afterwards, because after what must have been a horrendous moment for him, he held it together in the most difficult circumstances.
He shook Max’s hand, he shook my hand, he congratulated us, and his father did the same, at what must have been an incredibly difficult moment for him. So, my respect for him elevated at that point in time, highlighting the profound class shown by the Hamilton camp inside the paddock.
Addressing the shifting public perception, Horner also touched upon how the fallout was managed in the media space, noting the immense influence wielded by the rival operation. He explained how the opposition's robust media apparatus successfully shaped a narrative that often cast Red Bull into the villain role among disappointed supporters.
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