Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says Nico Rosberg’s overtaking manoeuvre on Max Verstappen in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was ‘a deciding moment” on his way to the 2016 Formula One world title.
Despite the Dutchman spinning at the first corner, his different tyre strategy and forceful recovery saw him split the Mercedes after both race leader Lewis Hamilton and Rosberg made their first pit stops.
After spending several laps behind Verstappen, the F1 points leader was given the hurry-up by his engineer who says overtaking the one-stopping Red Bull was “critical” for the championship.
Less than a lap later, Rosberg, whose previous close encounters with Verstappen this season did not end particularly well for him, dived on the inside of the 19-year-old in Turn 8.
The pair nearly touched as Verstappen managed to defend briefly but the Mercedes man carried more speed on the exit of the chicane to cut back across and outdrag his rival on the run to Turn 11.
“I think Nico was brave on the move he made on Max and it looked like he decided to get on with it at that point,” Horner commented. “We know Max isn’t the easiest person in the paddock to overtake. For me that was a deciding moment in Nico’s race.”
While Rosberg went on to finish second and secure his first world championship, Verstappen made his one-stop strategy work though he had to settle for fourth after he could not fend off a charging Sebastian Vettel in the final laps.
“He drove a very mature race. The way he looked after both the super soft and soft tire was very mature,” Horner said of Verstappen's display.
“You look at his recovery he came around the first lap last and then loses very little time passing all those cars and not killing his [supersoft] tyres, then to get those tyres to lap 21 was a very impressive performance.”
2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Driver ratings
REPORT: Hamilton wins, as Rosberg takes title in Abu Dhabi
Jenson Button's F1 career: 17 seasons, 15 wins
Silbermann says ... Parting gifts galore
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
