Abu Dhabi GP LIVE – Hamilton vs Verstappen LIVE: The Formula 1 history hasn’t seen such a mad build-up to season finale. The race to the championship glory between champion Lewis Hamilton & challenger Max Verstappen is being built up as the most fiercest or perhaps the most dirtiest ever contested. On Thursday evening in their pre-race media duties, the bitter F1 title rivals refused to shake-hands or even take a glace at each other – Follow Hamilton vs Verstappen LIVE Streaming on Star Sports Network & LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN
USA: 8:00 am ET, Sunday, December 12
UK: 1:00 pm GMT, Sunday, December 12
India: 6:30 pm IST, Sunday, December 12
Abu Dhabi GP LIVE: Biggest race of Formula 1 history on Sunday, Lewis Hamilton – Max Verstappen refuse to shake hands at official PC: Follow LIVE Updates
Hamilton vs Verstappen LIVE: Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen didn’t even glance at each other in their pre-race media duties. Such bitterness has been created between the two that they did not even acknowledge each other’s presence.
Formula 1 – Abu Dhabi GP: Lewis Hamilton hungry for success, eyes record eighth title
No customary plesantries were exchanged, no glances were exchanged & obviously no hand-shakes came into play.
They were sitting almost 5 meters apart from each other with Formula 1 trophy placed between the two rivals.
It was a case of ‘eyes front’. Not once did the pair turn towards each other as they sat a few feet apart.
Both kept their cool, neither rose to any bait, especially Hamilton who at least pretended to be as calm as he would like to be on the eve of his quest for a record eighth title.
Abu Dhabi GP LIVE – Hamilton vs Verstappen LIVE: What did Hamilton say on the build up?
‘Er, I don’t put any energy towards that sort of thing. At the end of the day, I do believe that everyone racing here comes to win. I would like to believe everyone wants to do it the right way, so I don’t let that creep into my mind.
‘I’m here to do the best job I can with this incredible team. We never thought that we would be neck-and-neck going into the last race.’
Max Verstappen’s most outspoken comments had come a few hours before the official press conference.
‘Clearly things don’t apply for everyone because what I did in terms of defending, two other guys also did and they didn’t get a mention or penalty,’ said Verstappen, alluding to last weekend’s fractious race in Saudi Arabia.
‘I don’t understand because I thought I was just racing hard. What happened for me clearly didn’t deserve any penalty (a five-second addition for gaining an advantage for cutting a corner and 10 seconds for slowing/brake testing Hamilton).
‘It is only me who gets it. Fighting at the front means it is a bit more critical. But I don’t understand it. For me, I was not wrong.
‘Clearly only I was wrong somehow. As I said, other people do exactly the same thing and get nothing.
‘Both of us were off the track into Turn 1 and somehow they judged that it was my fault. That I don’t agree with.
‘The other penalty (the 10-second one) as well I don’t agree. Then he (Hamilton) pushes me off the track. He even looks at me and he gets a warning for that. It is definitely not how it should be and also not fair because it seems other drivers can do different things and only I get a penalty.’
Hamilton heads into Sunday’s season finale after three successive Grand Prix victories put him level on points with Red Bull’s Verstappen.
A sixth win in 12 years at the Yas Marina Circuit would give the Briton the title.
“Obviously with the year that we’ve had, I am sure many people would have ruled us out being this close right at the end,” said Hamilton, 36, during Thursday’s pre-race press conference.
“It’s been an incredible group effort from everyone back at the factory and at the track. No one has ever done eight before but I feel grateful.”
It’s been an incredible season of @F1! But it wouldn’t have been the same without you, our fans. 🙏
Before the finale, here’s a special message to all of you from the Champ. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/ltycmDNGkV
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) December 9, 2021
Hamilton meanwhile observed the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix circuit by his electric scooter
Abu Abu Dhabi GP LIVE – Hamilton vs Verstappen LIVE: Hamilton, who shares the record of seven titles with Michael Schumacher, welcomed race director Michael Masi’s warning about driving standards.
In his routine pre-race official notes, Masi signalled that the FIA will not tolerate the kind of deliberate ‘foul’ that has decided past championships.
If neither man finishes, Verstappen will take the title because he has won more races.
“It’s happened in the past obviously and I am sure the stewards then hadn’t taken the precautions they have this time around,” said Hamilton.
“I think it’s fair that they do it and, hopefully, they won’t need to be used and we have a great race.”
“I’m here to do my job and don’t really want to see the stewards and they don’t want to see me.”
Follow Hamilton vs Verstappen LIVE Streaming on Star Sports Network & LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN