TYSON FURY has defended Max Verstappen after the F1 star’s latest controversy with Lewis Hamilton.
Verstappen, 24, clashed with the Brit in the sensational Saudi Arabian GP on Sunday that was won by Hamilton.
That has now set up a one-race winner-takes-all finale in Abu Dhabi this weekend.
Both drivers are level on points going into the last race of the season after nine months of intense action-packed racing.
Hamilton’s victory in Jeddah came after Verstappen was penalised by the stewards.
Once was for cutting a corner and another time for brake-testing Hamilton, as the two made contact for the third time this season.
It was the second one that made the most headlines and left Hamilton’s Mercedes chief Toto Wolff fuming.
Supporters and colleagues from both the Merc and the Red Bull camps have been verbally at war since.
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But ahead of the highly-anticipated climax on Sunday, boxing’s WBC world heavyweight champion has now offered his two pence worth.
And he opted to defend the Dutchman rather than stick the boot in to his fellow countryman’s foe.
In a clip posted on Instagram, Fury said: “I’ve just been reading up about the F1 rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen and how Max is being made out to be a bit of a bad boy
“It’s not nice, especially when you are young and ambitious and want to win.
“Give him a bit of a break – he’s only a young lad trying his best.
“Good luck to both men in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.”
He added: “This rivalry reminds me a bit of James Hunt and Niki Lauda racing for the title.
“Who is going to win it boys? Come on the boys!”
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk