Christian Horner has maintained George Russell's handling of his qualifying near-miss with Max Verstappen provided the impetus the Dutchman needed to claim victory in the Qatar Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver set the fastest lap time in qualifying at the Lusail International Circuit, with the Briton second quickest.
However, the two shared a "hairy" moment - as the Mercedes driver called it - during Q3, something that saw them called before the stewards.
Verstappen was aggrieved and agitated by Russell, who he felt was overly aggressive in pushing for him to be penalised.
The stewards ultimately heeded Russell's approach, or at least sided with him, handing down an unusual one-place grid penalty to the newly-crowned four-time drivers' champion, essentially switching around the front row.
Upon the race start, Verstappen wasted no time in claiming the lead, overtaking the Mercedes into the first corner, with Russell consigned to third behind Lando Norris' McLaren.
The 27-year-old held on for victory in the chaotic and messy grand prix, but his team principal felt the events of qualifying and its aftermath provided all the motivation Verstappen needed.
"Well, he was annoyed with George [Russell], the way that things played out in front of the stewards yesterday and he carried that motivation into the race," Horner told Sky Sports F1.
"And that was clearly evident, that he was super motivated going into this race.
"He got an amazing start. And that whole first, second, third gear phase of the start, he was going to be the only car that was going to come out of Turn 1 in the lead.
"You could sense that George kind of sensed that as well. Then, obviously, Lando [Norris] got a bit of a run on the approach to turn two, but Max had it covered."
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'Things just went a bit too far'
Following Verstappen's ninth victory of the F1 season and his first dry-weather win since the Spanish Grand Prix in June, he had some choice words for Russell.
After the explosive remarks from the Dutch driver, Horner highlighted discussions had between the pair prior to the race, when Verstappen told the 26-year-old what his plans were for the start.
"I think there was a little bit of a moment between the two of them on the trailer as they go around the circuit or whatever earlier," the 50-year-old added.
"But Max, you know with him that he felt that things just went a bit too far yesterday, and he was so motivated coming into this race, even more than usual."
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