Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner cooly exited a post-race interview saying “we are going to celebrate this championship” after Max Verstappen pipped Lewis Hamilton to the F1 title.
Controversy has permeated the ferocious rivalry between Verstappen and the Mercedes ace this season, and the campaign was decided in the same fashion at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Hamilton appeared to be on track to claim his record-breaking eighth world title when he amassed a 10-second lead over the Dutchman with five laps to go.
However, a safety car, which emerged after Williams’ driver Nicolas Latifi crashed into the barriers, disrupted proceedings, and racing director Michael Masi allowed Verstappen the chance to try and catch Hamilton on the final lap.
Verstappen went on to overtake the Brit to secure his first ever F1 World Championship.
And Horner could not wait to celebrate, as he smoothly exited the interview, shortly after the FIA's decision.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Was Masi's decision to 'Let em race' the right call? Comment below
"We are going to go and celebrate this championship now. Thank you very much," Horner said with a mischievous smile on his face.
It was certainly an astonishing end at the United Arab Emirates which brought down the curtain on one of the most thrilling F1 seasons of all time.
Hamilton and Verstappen both came into the contest with 369.5 points, but it was the seven-time world champion who initially took the initiative.
And he seemed on course to surpass Michael Schumacher ’s seven world titles, until the safety car made its mark on the contest.
Racing director Masi has been slammed by critics and F1 fans for allowing Verstappen to have a clear run on Hamilton in the final lap.
But Horner has gone against the grain, stating that he feels it was “absolutely” the right decision
“We never wanted to end up in front of the stewards,” Horner said in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live.
“We don’t go racing with barristers. It was a shame it ended up there but the stewards made the right call.
"We have talked about let them race. Niki Lauda was the guy who 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.”
While Horner was delighted with the result, he did also suggest Verstappen was “lucky” the safety car had made an appearance.
"They have done an amazing job this year, showing passion and determination,” Horner added.
"Max got a little bit lucky with the safety car tonight but still had to come through with the strategy.
"Max is a very worthy world champion and we are very proud of him."
Horner also added he was screaming “let 'em race” at the racing directors when Verstappen and the Red Bull team had decided to take a pit stop and replace their tyres.
“We were screaming at him "let 'em race,"' he told Sky Sports.
“That’s what we’ve been talking about all these years: let them race.
“And this championship came down to the last lap and it was a great strategy call, to make that pit stop, to take that set of softs.
“And then it was down to Max to make it happen.”
