Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said Mercedes' decision to protest the result of the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday night "felt a little bit desperate."
Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the title in Abu Dhabi after overtaking Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton on the final lap. The opportunity only arose because of a late safety car period, which race control ended a lap earlier than it would have under its usual operating procedure to ensure the race didn't end behind the safety car.
Mercedes protested the result of the race on the grounds that race director Michael Masi did not follow the FIA's own rules relating to the use of the safety car and favoured Verstappen in doing so.