Red Bull told how Christian Horner would have tried to win Max Verstappen the 2025 title in Abu Dhabi

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Max Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but Red Bull Racing’s approach to the 2025 Formula 1 season finale has been called into question after the Dutchman missed out on winning a fifth consecutive championship.

Red Bull had a difficult task on their hands, with Max Verstappen on pole position and Lando Norris starting alongside him, with Oscar Piastri immediately behind both drivers on the second row.

Yuki Tsunoda helped Verstappen by giving him a tow during qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but he only lined up 10th and was out of the initial equation when working out the 28-year-old’s strategy.

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McLaren were unimpressed with Tsunoda’s efforts to block Norris, and the outgoing Red Bull driver picked up a five-second penalty for forcing the incumbent champion off the road.

Verstappen won the race quite comfortably, nailing a one-stop strategy and overtaking Piastri on track before the Australian had even completed his first pit stop.

Jolyon Palmer was surprised by the approach that Laurent Mekies’ team took, and while Verstappen has praised Mekies’ approach since his arrival, it’s hard to believe that Christian Horner would have made the same decision if he were still in charge.

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Jolyon Palmer questions Max Verstappen’s role in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Palmer was speaking about Verstappen’s approach to the race on the F1 Nation Podcast, and he said: “But do you not take a risk of maybe not winning the Grand Prix to have a better chance of winning a title? I was surprised that Red Bull didn’t try anything in the race.

“I was thinking last night, Checo [Perez] in 2021 did a lap five seconds off the pace and kept Lewis behind.

“He cost Lewis eight seconds in less than two laps. He was on shod tyres against Lewis, who was way quicker.

“Max is a driver that I respect at the highest ability that I think would be able to back off at a second per lap quite comfortably in the final sector and not be overtaken.

“Maybe be at risk of being overtaken, but I think he’s got the skill set to do that and probably keep track position, or someone has to make a big risky move to make it work.

“I think McLaren should almost go and thank Red Bull that they played it so fair today, because I don’t think anyone really expected Max not to try it.

“Even Oscar in the cooldown room said you didn’t fancy backing the pack up them, it seemed like it had to be the way.”

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Christian Horner would take targeted F1 title over Abu Dhabi win for Max Verstappen – Palmer

Palmer was then asked how the race would have played out if Horner was still team principal, and he said: “I think it might have been different, and I’ve had that thought since the race because Red Bull also seemed to me to be the happiest losers of the championship that I can remember in a title fight.

“He [Horner] was Mr push everything to the absolute limit and over the limit if you possibly can, but we will fight for every single thing we can scrap for today.

“I thought Red Bull executed a nice race if you want to win the race, but I didn’t think they executed the best race if they want to win the championship.”

Mekies has been told to copy Horner when it comes to keeping Verstappen happy, and the Dutchman’s post-race comments suggested that he’s delighted with the progress Red Bull have made in the second half of the season.

Red Bull have typically got their strategies right, where McLaren have faltered during the 2025 run-in, but they took a very conservative approach in Abu Dhabi when so much was at stake.

Verstappen wouldn’t have worried about throwing away a 71st F1 victory in Abu Dhabi if it meant winning the championship. A bolder strategy might have earned him a fifth straight title that only Michael Schumacher has achieved before.