Hamilton has gone down in Verstappen’s estimations

The
two
drivers
head
into
the
final
race
of
the
Formula
One
campaign
with
the
title
on
the
line
after
Hamilton
won
the
Saudi
Arabian
Grand
Prix
to
move
level
on
points
with
the
Dutchman
in
the
drivers’ championship.

Verstappen
has
the
advantage
as
the
pair
prepare
to
meet
in
Abu
Dhabi
on
Sunday,
with
the
Red
Bull
driver
holding
the
edge
on
races
won
(9-8),
which
means
he
will
clinch
his
first
title
if
Hamilton
does
not
better
his
result.

The
two
contenders
have
endured
a
tumultuous
relationship
throughout
the
year
after
colliding
three
times,
the
most
recent
of
those
coming
last
weekend
when
the
Briton
hit
the
back
of
Verstappen’s
car.

Verstappen,
though,
incurred
a
10-second
time
penalty
for
slowing
down
without
due
caution
–
to
compound
an
earlier
five-second
punishment
for
gaining
an
advantage
by
leaving
the
track
–
and
Hamilton
could
be
heard
on
the
radio
furiously
questioning
his
opponent’s
behaviour.

Asked
whether
his
opinion
of
Hamilton,
who
is
aiming
for
a
record
eighth
championship
triumph,
and
Mercedes
had
changed
during
the
season,
Verstappen
said
on
Thursday:
“Yes,
very
much
so
and
not
in
a
positive
way.

“Clearly
only
I
was
wrong
somehow
[for
the
collision
in
Saudi
Arabia],
like
I
said
other
people
do
exactly
the
same
thing
and
get
nothing.

“Both
of
us
were
off
the
track
into
turn
one
and
somehow
they
judged
that
it
was
my
fault,
that
I
don’t
agree
with.

“The
other
penalty
[causing
the
collision]
as
well
I
don’t
agree
with,
then
afterwards
[Hamilton]
pushes
me
off
the
track,
he
even
looks
at
me,
he
doesn’t
turn
in,
he
just
pushes
me
outside
the
white
line,
the
track
edge,
and
he
only
gets
a
warning
for
that.

“It’s
not
how
it
should
be,
it’s
not
fair
because
it
seems
like
other
drivers
can
do
different
things,
and
it
seems
like
only
I
get
a
penalty.”

Say
cheese
????

@Max33Verstappen
and

@SChecoPerez
????????

#AbuDhabiGP
????????

#F1
pic.twitter.com/g6HM2w4RIh

—
Red
Bull
Racing
Honda
(@redbullracing)

December
9,
2021

Before
the
weekend’s
finale,
FIA
director
Michael
Masi
issued
a
reminder
of
the
rules,
stating
drivers
can
be
punished
with
a
points
deduction
if
they
are
deemed
to
have
intentionally
crashed
into
their
rival.

Masi
added
that
stewards
may
decide
to
impose
race
bans
for
any
untoward
behaviour,
but
Verstappen
insisted
he
would
congratulate
Hamilton
if
he
wins
fairly,
even
if
he
would
not
sit
down
for
dinner
with
him.

“I
don’t
think
we
need
to
sit
down,”
Verstappen
told
reporters
at
the
news
conference.
“We
are
both
here
to
win.

“I
will
do
of
course
everything
to
win
and
win
the
championship,
whatever
is
necessary
in
terms
of
points.

“I
think
we
have
raced
really
well
together
the
whole
year
and
I
think
we
have
put
on
a
great
show
for
everyone
at
the
end
of
the
day.
So
hopefully
we
can
do
that
here.”