Q & A with Christian Horner

Christian Horner: It is a brilliant end to the season. Both drivers drove phenomenally well, and it was great team work here - and strategy - to get Seb [Vettel] ahead of Lewis at the first stop. We could see that we had really good pace today, and the strategy was also with Mark going longer at the second stop - to get Lewis at the second stop. We were confident we could do that - but that came earlier when Lewis retired with whatever brake issue he had.

In the race, on the option tyre, Mark struggled for traction in sector two. That allowed Jenson to get pretty close in the last couple of laps, but they put on a good show for the crowd and Mark drove defensively very well, and helped score our fourth 1-2 finish of the year which tops off a brilliant year.

Q. Were there a few nerves when Jaime Alguersuari drove into your pits?

CH: Let's just say that the air on the pit wall at that point was fairly blue! It probably won't be repeatable anywhere but it was an understandable mistake from him. It was very frustrating at the time, but thankfully he kept going.

Q. The form that you have showed in the second half of the season, does it make it more frustrating the points you let slip at the beginning of the year?

CH: If you reflect on the season for us, the damage was done in the first third. I think in reality, probably the double diffuser had a big impact on that. Brawn GP made hay while the sun shone and also had great consistency and reliability - and we lost too much ground in the first phase of the championship. I think since Istanbul, we have outscored every team. As I say, the damage was done early on. We've developed the car continually through the season, and every member of the team in Milton Keynes can be very proud of what they have achieved this year. We have learned a great deal from this championship and it will make us stronger as a group.

Q. Do you think you can carry this momentum forward, or is everyone starting from a clean sheet of paper next year?

CH: Winning the last race for me, if you don't win the championship, is the most important race to win. It sets up your whole winter. We have a big winter ahead of us - but we have had superb support from Red Bull, from Mr. [Dieter] Mateschitz. We've had great support from our engine partner Renault this year - this was their 121st Grand Prix win today. And from all our other partners it has been a great year. But 2010 starts tomorrow.

Q. Ferrari and Renault ditched developing this year's car early to focus on its 2010 machine, while you and Brawn kept pushing with your 2009 machines. Do you feel that may hurt you going into next season, as it did McLaren/Ferrari this year?

CH: No. We have got a secret weapon - and it is called Adrian Newey. He has produced a brilliant car this year. We did not start this year's car early, and there are a lot of lessons that will go from this year's car into next year's car. For sure they will come back strong. They are great teams. Both Ferrari and McLaren, and I am sure Brawn as reigning world champions too, will be strong. But we feel we have got to build on the success we have achieved, keep the momentum going and push like hell to give them a really hard time next year.

Q. Do you need to make a decision then on your engine as soon as possible to not compromise your 2010 machine?

CH: We really need to come to a conclusion, which I am sure will be done imminently. We need to start optimising the car around a specific power plant, but we will certainly not be ignoring the success we have achieved with Renault.

Q. What did you make of the Abu Dhabi venue and track?

CH: I think what they have done here in Abu Dhabi is quite remarkable. To have built what they have built here is just mind blowing. The spectacle of the race, going from light to dark was stunning!