Christian Horner addresses controversial call to Michael Masi during Abu Dhabi 2021 F1 title decider

Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has publicly addressed putting direct pressure on former Formula 1 race director Michael Masi during the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Speaking in his new book Drive and on the High Performance Podcast, Horner admitted to lobbying race control to clear lapped cars between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton to ensure a racing finish.

Horner explained that he chose to contact Masi directly after learning that Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff had previously established direct communications with race control earlier that season. Masi subsequently allowed only the cars between Verstappen and Hamilton to unlap themselves, enabling Verstappen to overtake Hamilton on the final lap to claim the 2021 drivers' championship.