Horner surprised Mercedes didn't use Russell as 'rear gunner' for Hamilton

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner was "quite surprised" that Mercedes did not leave George Russell out on track to protect Lewis Hamilton following Max Verstappen's late pit stop in the Dutch Grand Prix.

What first looked like a straightforward afternoon of racing at Zandvoort for Red Bull and Verstappen transformed into a tricky game of strategy, first due to a Virtual Safety Car following Yuki Tsunoda's retirement and then for a full safety car triggered by Valtteri Bottas' engine failure on the main straight.

The latter neutralization decided Red Bull's strategists to give up track position against Mercedes and pit Verstappen for a final set of softs tyres.

• Read also: Verstappen 'proud to be Dutch' after latest victory

While Hamilton picked up the leader's baton and remained out on track, the Brackley squad brought in Russell, also for a fresh set of soft boots.

Horner was puzzled by Mercedes' apparent decision to hedge its bets.

"You've got your home driver, leading in front of 105,000 people, and you decide to pit him for the soft tyres and concede track position behind two Mercedes," said Horner.

"I was quite surprised that they didn't leave George out strategically as a rear gunner for Lewis. When he pitted, it gave a straight fight between Max and Lewis with a tyre offset.

"By the time they came past us on the pit wall, Max was already alongside, and thereafter, it was a matter of controlling the race."

Horner justified his team's decision to pit Verstappen by its fear that the Dutchman, running on the hard tyre, would have perhaps been challenged by Hamilton in the closing stages of the race.

He thus preferred "to go attack than trying to hang on at the front."

"My biggest concern was it would be two against one," added Horner.

"But when George seemed to pit himself, that then freed up a one-on-one fight with Max versus Lewis."

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