
The Game changer – Williams F1 driver Nicholas Latifi has been guaranteed a lifetime supply of Red Bull by the team principal Christian Horner after his crash related safety car eventually led to Max Verstappen winning the F1 world title with victory in Abu Dhabi.
Latifi’s crash at turn 14 barriers on lap 53 caused Safety Car deployment, which was turn around the results of championship winner in a last-lap battle between title challengers Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
“He’ll be getting a lifetime supply of Red Bull for sure,” Horner said to Channel 4 when asked about Latifi.
“We needed something from the racing gods in the last 10 laps,” he added on Sky Sports.
“Thank you, Nicholas Latifi, for that safety car. I have to say with the stewards…they did great to get the race going again.
“We were screaming at him (Masi) ‘let them race’. It has been an insane competition and for Max to win the world championship – it is not just about here.
“I have to say all credit to Lewis, he has been a phenomenal opponent all year, he is a great champion and that is what makes it even more valid to win this.”
Later Williams F1 driver has detailed what happened and what triggered the crash that eventually led to the title-deciding dramatic final laps of the Abu Dhabi GP.
“I went off the track when we were side-by-side [with the Haas],” Latifi said. “I mean, he kind of forced me off, but I guess it’s fair racing. Nothing too untoward there.
“But when I went off, the tyres were really, really dirty, and obviously that was a really tricky area for us to follow.”
“It was absolutely not how I intended to end the season,” Latifi explained. “So apologies to the team for that.
“Not that I had any hope to… I don’t know how the race was unfolding before, but it obviously created an opportunity at the end [for the title contenders], so that was obviously not my intention as well.
“But I’m obviously sorry for my guys and for the team.”