2021 was an eventful and exciting season in Formula 1, one that for the first time in many years saw both championships decided until the last race, this time held in the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi.

The title-deciding race ended with Verstappen overtaking Hamilton on the last lap, after the Safety Car was called 5 laps until the end. When the SC was called in, Max surprised Hamilton and overtook him in Turn 5, not only taking P1 from the Brit but also the Championship.

"Naturally, we're going to roll the dice and go for it," Horner told The Telegraph.

"Max just refused to give up. You didn't hear him moaning on the radio. Every lap, he drove his heart out, then suddenly a chance presented itself.

"When you look at his pass at Turn 5, I don't think Lewis was expecting him to go through there. He didn't even defend. He was waiting for him more into Turn 6, but Max took him by surprise. Classic Verstappen."

While the move that gave the Dutch driver his first F1 championship was controversial, Red Bull team boss says he proved his worthiness through the entire season.

"Even entering that weekend, I felt Max deserved it for how he had driven, how he had applied himself, how he had kept fighting under the most intense pressure and scrutiny - even when he didn't have, in the second half of the year, the best car," he explained.

But that move also made Mercedes react as a team and file two protests against Verstappen and the end result.

Christian Horner declared his dissatisfaction on how Mercedes post-race summons were handled. While Red Bull sent their usual representatives to meet the stewards, Mercedes backed Andrew Shovlin, head of Trackside Engineering, and Sporting Director Ron Meadows with QC Paul Harris.

"We were summoned to the stewards' hearing and confronted with a barrister I had last seen dealing with a tyre issue that they had back in 2013 - suddenly you're in the thick of it."

In the interview with The Telegraph, Horner said he feels like Mercedes sent a lawyer to try and intimidate the stewards to rule in their favor.

"The stewards in the room, they weren't professional lawyers," he continued. "There was a finance guy, the driver steward and a local steward in there. Is it fair then to be faced with a QC? That can be quite intimidating.

"He's not an operational member of the team, he's not a Sporting Director. This is an issue that needs to be considered by the FIA. We don't want to be taking lawyers, let alone barristers, racing."

Horner also revealed that Mercedes Team Boss Toto Wolff texted him personally to congratulate on their title, but he added that he was disappointed by their post-race behavior and disappearance.

"I did find it disappointing that there wasn't a single member of the Mercedes team below the podium," Horner said.

"It's a shame that they've taken it in the manner they have. Emotions run high. They have been a winning machine for eight years now, and at some point that has to come to an end."