Abu Dhabi GP: Red Bull lauds 'unbelievable' Daniel Ricciardo drive

Despite his men starting from the pitlane as a result of their disqualification from qualifying for a front wing rule infringement, Ricciardo eventually finished fourth with Sebastian Vettel down in eighth.

Horner was full of praise for another superb Ricciardo performance during a campaign where he has outshone his team-mate.

"It's not too bad is it? Maybe we will just give up on Saturdays," said Horner. "It would be a lot less stressful.

"I have to say that it was an unbelievable drive from Daniel. He was quick throughout, with some great overtaking moves.

"It was a drive that epitomised his season - and the year ended exactly how he started it.

"He drove an immaculate race from start to finish, so a tremendous performance and a strong way for him to sign off the season.

"For Sebastian it was a harder race. He lost a lot of time behind [Kevin] Magnussen and that really killed his opportunities later in the race."

EMOTIONAL SEND-OFF

Vettel's final race with Red Bull may not have produced anywhere near the kind of result he had got used to during his title-winning years, but the team said it took nothing away from the emotions of their time together ending.

Horner said that, despite a difficult campaign, he was sad to see the German go as he switches to Ferrari next year.

"He joined us as a boy really, very much a boy when he [first] started with Red Bull," said Horner.

"He grew through the junior programmes, then through Toro Rosso into Red Bull and we have very much grown together. So we will be sad to see him leave.

"All we can do is wish him well for the future. But I think, as you can see from Daniil Kvyat, we have another very exciting prospect for the future."