Red Bull boss Christian Horner has labelled Mercedes' management "naive" for not anticipating Lewis Hamilton's tactic of backing up Nico Rosberg at the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Hamilton's spent the final stint of the evening race driving well below full capacity in an attempt to push teammate and title rival Rosberg into the clutches of Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, which ultimately failed. Hamilton later reasoned that it was the only thing he could have done given the fact he needed Rosberg to finish off the podium to claim a fourth world title.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff admitted he was in two minds about Hamilton's strategy, as the three-time world champion ignored a team order to pick up the pace. Horner, who had predicted the tactic going into the race weekend and defended Hamilton immediately afterwards, cannot understand why Mercedes' management was surprised at how the final laps unfolded.
"With where they were at, it was just down to those two guys," Horner said. "So it was only ever going to be that kind of battle between the two of them. Congratulations to Nico, he has driven a great season. He is a very worthy world champion, but it was naïve to think that there would be any different approach to this race with what is at stake."
Horner also took another swipe at Wolff's decision to call Max Verstappen's father, Jos, ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix, and suggested the Austrian take more time to talk to his own drivers than worry about the business of other teams.
"I understand that Toto has suggested that Lewis follow my instruction rather than his, and that he should come and drive for Red Bull! Maybe it works better to talk directly to the driver rather than their father..."