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      F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Live stream FREE, UK start time, TV channel, full schedule for race TODAY

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      THERE simply is no bigger finish what is coming – Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton are going to engage in an unmissable F1 season finale and you can watch it for FREE.The pair have been locked in a stunning tussle all 2021 season for the crown of world champion and have dragged back fans to the sport in the process.
      ABU DHABI GP LIVE – LATEST UPDATES FROM YAS MARINA
      Lewis Hamilton, right, and Max Verstappen, left, have given F1 fans heartstopping drama this seasonCredit: Rex
      There was no love lost last weekend at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, where the pair were involved in ANOTHER collision, as the Dutchman was forced to let the Brit overtake him.
      But they finished in first and second spot in Jeddah, meaning they are incredibly on exactly the same points total of 369.5 points.
      There is even an unlikely scenario where Hamilton and Verstappen could finish the season on the same points total – and that would result in the Dutchman clinching world championship victory.
      Hamilton is within touching distance of immortality, a victory for him this weekend would take him one world title ahead of Michael Schumacher’s magic mark of seven drivers’ championships.
      Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit has undergone a series of changes in a bid to make the Formula One season finale even more exciting for drivers and fans.
      A chicane has been removed, with a wider hairpin now forming turn seven, while four tight corners, 11 to 14, have also gone – replaced by one long, cambered turn.
      Further alterations at the hotel section, turns 17 to 20, have been made to allow the cars to run closer together in an attempt to boost the number of overtaking opportunities on the circuit.
      The changes mean it is harder to determine which car will be better-suited to the Yas Marina Circuit, with Verstappen winning here last year to end a run of six consecutive Mercedes victories in the United Arab Emirates.
      What time is the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?

      What TV channel is the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on and can I live stream it?

      Channel 4 will be broadcasting the race in the UK, alongside Sky Sports.
      The terrestrial station reached a late deal with Sky to show the race on free-to-air television.
      Practice and qualifying was live on Sky Sports F1, with the race itself also on Sky Sports Main Event.
      You can stream all the action live with a Sky Go account and on the Sky Sports app.
      Non Sky Sports subscribers can watch all the action on Now TV with a day pass costing £9.99.

      F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix schedule
      Friday December 10

      Practice One – 9.30am UK (1.30pm local)
      Practice Two – 1pm UK (5pm local)

      Saturday December 11

      Practice Three – 10am UK (2pm local)
      Qualifying – 1pm UK (5pm local)

      Sunday December 12

      Race – 1pm UK (5pm local)

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      What are the current 2021 driver standings?

      Max Verstappen – 369.5 points
      Lewis Hamilton – 369.5 points
      Valtteri Bottas – 218 points
      Sergio Perez – 190 points
      Charles Leclerc – 158 points
      Lando Norris – 154 points More

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      in Motorsport

      F1 ace Lewis Hamilton shows off £80k EQS electric Mercedes which goes 0-60mph in 4.5 secs and has holographic lights

      by

      LEWIS HAMILTON has shown off his stunning electric motor – the Mercedes EQS.Formula 1 champ Hamilton talked up his decision to go green in a bid to protect the environment.
      Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton poses next to his Mercedes EQS
      The F1 champ says he is ‘working closely’ with Mercedes to move towards a more electric fleet
      The EQS, which was announced last year, is part of the two-car garage the Merc racer is sticking to off the track.
      Pairing the £80,000 saloon with a Smart car, Hamilton, 36, said he has offset the carbon footprint of his ENTIRE F1 career.
      Yet the EQS still packs a punch, going from 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds with 470bhp generated by a 350 kW electric motor.
      Mercedes reckon a fully-charged EQS can even manage a range of 435 miles.
      Naturally, it is also packed full of toys including holographic headlights, a rear ‘lightbelt’ of over 200 LEDs, and ambient dashboard lighting.
      Posting a picture of himself beside the car, Hamilton wrote on Instagram: “Recently I’ve been making many changes in my life to reduce my impact on the environment.
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      “The first step in this journey was to understand my personal impact on the planet so I could make changes to improve it.
      “Since then, I have offset my carbon footprint from my Formula 1 career dating back to 2007, I have reduced travel where possible, I have gone plant-based and outside of the track, I try to use electric cars wherever possible.
      “I also want to use my position as a racing driver to enforce positive and permanent change, which is why I’m working closely with Mercedes to slowly move their fleet of cars towards electric.
      “This is my new dream car, the new EQS fully electric Mercedes.
      “It’s difficult to always be perfect when we go about our daily lives, but I’m continuing to learn how to be better and I’m committed to staying educated and informed so I can play my part.
      “Small steps lead to big change, so it’s important we all take a moment to understand our footprint and the small changes we can make in our everyday lives to put our planet first.
      “The last step for me will be when I step away from this sport and can focus fully on helping heal the world to provide a better future for our kids and our kids’ kids.”
      Lewis Hamilton arrives at Dutch GP wearing Holland’s famous orange colours More

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      Inside Christian Horner’s luxury country mansion Red Bull F1 chief shares with Spice Girl Geri & three miniature donkeys

      by

      RED BULL chief Christian Horner is used to living life in the fast lane working in F1.But when it comes to his personal life, the team principal of the motorsport giants prefers a more quiet and slower existence away from the race track.
      Red Bull boss Christian Horner lives a life of luxury in the countryCredit: Instagram @christianhorner
      Horner poses on the grounds of their Oxfordshire farmhouse with son MontagueCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
      He shares TWO stunning country homes with wife, Spice Girl Geri in Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire and their brood.
      The former property is, perhaps, the most lavish and most shared online – boasting its very own duck pond, which they use for boating.
      Their farm also houses three miniature donkeys, horses and goats in the estate’s stables.
      ‘PERFECT’
      For Horner, living on a farm offers the ideal existence away from the stresses of the F1 circuit.
      Back in 2019, he told Luxury London that the sprawling country abode was the “perfect home to relax in.”
      “Restoring the farm has been my hobby – the way I put racing out of my mind,” he added.
      “The main house is finished but now the barns are being converted. We’re currently putting the finishing touches to an indoor swimming pool.”
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      Certainly, it’s the property in Oxfordshire that gets the most love from Geri on Instagram, who regularly shares candid snaps of her family life.
      Horner is stepdad to Geri’s daughter Bluebell Madonna, 15, and the couple share a son, Montague, who is 4. He also has another daughter, Olivia, 8, from a previous relationship with ex-partner Beverley Allen.
      F1’s Horner poses on the steps of the home with daughter Olivia from his previous relationshipCredit: Instagram @christianhorner
      Son Montague and dad have matching John Deere tractorsCredit: Instagram @christianhorner
      An Aston Martin DB5 sits proudly in Horner’s garage
      Horner is married to Spice Girl GeriCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
      Geri shows off the home’s swimming poolCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
      Christian has been spied alongside his boy riding a mini tractor alongside dad’s John Deere.
      He’s also been seen standing with his vintage Aston Martin DB5, which was Sean Connery’s car of choice as James Bond in Goldfinger.
      READY STEADY COOK
      Geri appears happy to play the role of housewife, often sharing photos in the kitchen rustling up treats.
      A budding chef, she has shown off her baking skills by crafting cakes using a customised Ginger Spice KitchenAid mixer, which Christian had specially designed for her.
      And with four separate ovens to choose from with the AGA range the kitchen boasts, she has plenty of space for her other favourite pastime – making bread.
      You can bet, Christian, who also loves using the outdoor barbecue, and the kids are well fed in the Horner household with Geri’s production line of cakes and bread.

      Geri is often spied in the kitchen and loves bakingCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
      Christian shows off his grilling skills with the outdoor barbecueCredit: Instagram @christianhorner
      ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK
      Christian and Geri have a number of reception room to entertain from.
      However, the most popular one appears to be where a £16,000 original Wurlitzer can be found.
      When she celebrated her 45th birthday, Geri posted a video online singing along to Michael Jackson hit Billie Jean while thanking Christian for the music, which suggested it was a gift for her.
      Another living room shows off a stunning chandelier, as well as a marble fireplace.
      A £16,000 vintage Wurlitzer can be seen in a reception room, which was a gift from Christian for Geri’s 45th birthdayCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
      The Oxfordshire property boasts several reception roomsCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
      A spacious dining room was seen when Montague celebrated his birthdayCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
      The glam couple also have a bar space in their propertyCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
      OUTDOOR SPACE
      The family love taking advantage of the huge grounds on offer at their farmhouse.
      And why not when you’ve got an incredible duck pond so big you can go boating on it.
      Horner and Geri can even take their dogs for a walk around the expansive gardens.
      The pair have even been seen zooming around on a quad bike, as well as picking raspberries in the garden with Montague.
      Miniature donkeys live in the stables
      The grounds are vast on the Horner’s Oxfordshire plot
      The Horners show off their horses and have their own stableCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
      Geri picks raspberries with Montague in their lush gardenCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
      The duck pond on the property has its own boat
      Christian and Geri live the country life away from the racing circuitCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
      @font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:500;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-stretch:semi-condensed;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:normal;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:condensed;font-display:swap;}.css-qu9fel{border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-b9nmbi{margin-bottom:16px;border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}.css-q8gelu{margin-bottom:24px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-zkaekv{font-family:The Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-zkaekv::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -1px);}.css-zkaekv::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}Most read in Motorsport.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-zdjvqv{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:space-around;-ms-flex-pack:space-around;-webkit-justify-content:space-around;justify-content:space-around;margin-top:calc(-12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(-12px/2);}.css-zdjvqv:before,.css-zdjvqv:after{content:”;display:block;}.css-1meuhfk{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-top:calc(12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(12px/2);}
      Of course, no farm would be complete without animals either.
      And Christian and Geri boast three miniature donkeys that are housed in the stables, as well as some goats.
      The singer often shares videos online when it’s feeding time.
      Clearly, you can forget the fancy racing circuit of heading to places like Dubai or Monte Carlo. A farmhouse is where it’s at. More

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      Legendary Murray Walker would have loved Hamilton vs Verstappen drama… let’s just hope this epic is decided on the track

      by

      MURRAY WALKER, of course, would have loved all this.The Voice of Formula One would have been thrilled at his beloved sport gripping the nation like the good old days, as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen stage a winner-takes-all duel for the title in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
      Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen conclude a classic title race, with purists hoping the battle is over as soon as the cars cross the finishing lineCredit: AFP
      The F1 finale would have captivated Murray Walker even by the the much-loved F1 commentator’s excitable standardsCredit: Getty
      Walker died in March, aged 97, but he left behind an encyclopaedia of memorable quotes.
      Many of them were bloopers, born out of the extreme excitement of a much-loved enthusiast whose motormouth could not keep up with the 200mph action he was trying to make sense of.
      One of these ‘Murrayisms’ has been brought to mind during this compelling but chaotic title race.
      “Unless I’m very much mistaken … I AM very much mistaken.”
      Because, while this great modern rivalry has enthralled us, it has also bewildered us.
      Last Sunday’s Saudi Grand Prix may have been box-office — featuring yet another prang between the two title contenders — but it was settled by rules and regulations rather than two cars racing.
      In Saudi, as in the opening race in Bahrain, Verstappen was punished for overtaking Hamilton while going outside the track limits.
      As the bad blood reached boiling point at Silverstone in July, Hamilton was punished for a crash which ended his rival’s race, yet roared back to win anyway — a red rag to Red Bull.
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      Today we will sit down to watch the action from the Middle East, expecting to find out whether Hamilton or Verstappen is crowned world champion.
      But will we even get an answer on the day?
      Extraordinarily, after 21 races, the reigning champion in the Mercedes and the young Dutch tyro in the Red Bull, begin the final race tied on 369.5 points.
      Yet if neither man finishes, Verstappen would prevail by virtue of having taken one more chequered flag than the Brit. So what if Verstappen takes the nuclear option and shunts Hamilton out — as many believe Michael Schumacher did to Damon Hill in their title decider in Australia in 1994?
      Race director Michael Masi tells us he has power to deduct points from Verstappen — or any other driver — although he may not.
      And both Hamilton and Verstappen claim they are unsure about the exact rules of combat.
      So, what price a stewards’ inquiry and a lengthy legal battle?
      Let’s hope not. Let’s hope for an actual car race. Perhaps even Hamilton and Verstappen overtaking one another legitimately.
      When the F1 season began in March, there was little fanfare.
      Even if Hamilton fails, he will gain more respect from defeat than in many victories.
      Britain may have boasted a record-equalling seven-time world champion in Sir Lewis the knight rider — but too many grands prix, and too many title races, had felt like processions.
      Hamilton won the previous four titles.
      But F1 needed a young challenger such as Verstappen, no respecter of reputation, determined to disrupt.
      Verstappen, 24, was labelled ‘a f***ing crazy guy’ by Hamilton last Sunday — but he has been a godsend for his sport.
      Formula One was becoming a niche sport as for too long, it had lacked the scenario laid out today.
      Hamilton’s early jousts for the world title — when he lost out to Kimi Raikkonen in 2007 and when he pipped Felipe Massa on the final lap a year later — are in the dim and distant past.
      Now, though, the 36-year-old can surpass Schumacher to become motor racing’s undisputed GOAT with an eighth world title.
      And even if Hamilton fails, he will have gained more respect from defeat than in many of his previous victories. Either way, let us hope it is settled on the track.
      Let us hope we can all watch a damned good race, that the best driver wins, and that our eyes — unlike dear old Murray’s — do not deceive us. More

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      Max Verstappen says Lewis Hamilton is SCARED of him as he taunts title rival before winner-takes-all Abu Dhabi showdown

      by

      COCKY Max Verstappen taunted bitter F1 title rival Lewis Hamilton by saying: He’s afraid of me.Red Bull’s Verstappen struck a hammer blow by snatching pole position for Sunday’s world championship decider in the Abu Dhabi desert.
      Max Verstappen reckons Lewis Hamilton gets nervous when he sees the Dutchman in his mirrors as they prepare for their title deciderCredit: Rex
      Lewis Hamilton could he haunted as well as taunted by Max Verstappen if the Red Bull star pips him to the world title this weekendCredit: Getty
      The Dutchman, 24, vowed to continue driving aggressively, says he makes the seven-time world champ “nervous” and claims he is the better driver.
      Verstappen said: “I make him nervous if he sees me in his mirrors. He’s a different driver to me, less aggressive.”
      And when quizzed if Hamilton was afraid of him, Verstappen replied: “He will never admit that. At least I’m not afraid of him!
      “He doesn’t know how to race like I do. I can’t blame him for that either, because he was never able to learn that like I did from my father.”
      I make him nervous if he sees me in his mirrors. He’s a different driver to me, less aggressive.Max Verstappen
      Verstappen’s dad Jos is a former F1 driver, who made 106 Grand Prix starts between 1994 and 2003, while Hamilton’s dad Anthony took on multiple jobs to pay for his son’s karting career.
      The two warring drivers are level on points and will both be on the front row of the Yas Marina Circuit grid today.
      But while Verstappen’s car is on soft tyres, Hamilton’s Mercedes will wear medium rubber.
      Hamilton, 36, who was booed by Dutch fans in parc ferme, hailed Verstappen’s qualifying performance, saying: “It was a fantastic lap from him.”
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      Red Bull chief Christian Horner branded the pole-clinching lap “absolutely insane” and added: “That was one of Max’s best laps of the year.”
      While Verstappen said: “It is an amazing feeling. I’m incredibly happy.”
      The last six races in Abu Dhabi have all been won from pole position.
      Merc boss Toto Wolff admitted: “It’s 1-0 to them today. But I’d much rather be starting on the medium tyres.”
      The drivers’ bitter feud has led to the FIA warning they will be docked points for unsporting behaviour following three crashes between them this season — at Silverstone, Monza and in Saudi Arabia.
      Verstappen claims Hamilton drove into him “on purpose” at the British Grand Prix in a high-speed shunt which put the Dutchman in hospital.

      Hamilton suffered a sore neck at Monza after Verstappen launched his Red Bull on TOP of his Merc. And Verstappen was punished by stewards in Saudi Arabia after Hamilton crashed into him.
      Verstappen will be crowned champion if neither driver scores points on Sunday as he has won nine GPs to Hamilton’s eight.
      But Hamilton laughed off fears of a first corner collision as he starts second on the grid, adding: “I am grateful I can see where he is!”
      Verstappen and Hamilton have clashed repeatedly this season alreadyCredit: Getty More

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      Lewis Hamilton can win TEN world titles if he stays at Mercedes, says Nigel Mansell ahead of Max Verstappen showdown

      by

      NIGEL MANSELL is tipping fellow Brit Lewis Hamilton to land TEN world titles — if he stays at Mercedes.The 1992 world champ believes super “confident” Hamilton will win Sunday’s championship shootout with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi to claim a record-breaking eighth crown.
      Mansell has tipped Hamilton to come out on top on Sunday… and go on to win even more titlesCredit: Getty
      Verstappen will start from pole ahead of Hamilton in Abu DhabiCredit: Getty
      But Mansell, 68, also advised the title protagonists: “Keep it squeaky clean” on the track.
      Mansell, talking from his Clearwater home in America, told Sun Sport: “The hot favourite is Lewis. The confidence he has and the team and team has in him just puts him way out in front of the others.
      “If he races long enough he will get ten world titles.
      “If he stays at Mercedes and they stay interested in the sport he can keep on winning because he is on a different level.”
      Mansell stressed he is not concerned Sunday’s showdown will be decided by dirty tricks.
      All season Hamilton and Verstappen have battled it out wheel to wheel with several unsavoury incidents between them.
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      Last weekend Hamilton labelled the Dutchman “f****** crazy” after ramming into the back of the Red Bull when Verstappen appeared to give the Englishman a brake test.
      And now they head for a “winner takes all” contest with both on 369.5 points at the top of the drivers’ table.
      Yet, Verstappen will celebrate his first world crown should both cars fail to finish on countback of races won this season as he leads the Englishman 9-8.
      There are fears this finale could be decided by an accident, too, like it has done three times before in controversial fashion.
      Alain Prost sealed the 1990 title in the Japanese GP after crashing into Ayrton Senna.
      And four years later Schumacher took out Damon Hill to claim the top prize in Australia.
      Schumacher courted yet more controversy in 1997 in Spain when he collided with Jacques Villenueve, who somehow kept his Williams on track to win the championship.
      But Mansell insisted: “No, I don’t think it will end in any accident but both drivers have to be squeaky clean.
      “It would be bad if the title was decided, as it was in years gone past, with great controversy.

      “The Red Bull and Mercedes teams are too professional for that and the technology is such these days that if anything was to happen, and could be proved, it would be detrimental to the team and the driver.
      “You have to hand it to Red Bull they have pushed Mercedes all the way but this last race will see Mercedes produce something special.
      “The astonishing thing for me was the speed of the Mercedes in Saudi Arabia. They even set the fastest lap with a broken wing! To be as quick down the straight they have got to have something in reserve.” More

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      Max Verstappen insists he would have won F1 title ‘long ago’ if he was driving Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes

      by

      MAX VERSTAPPEN claims he would have been world champion “long ago” had he been driving Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes supercar.The Dutchman has made no secret of the fact he feels he’s been victimised by race stewards as his 19-point advantage was wiped out in the last three races.
      Max Verstappen believes he’s been unfairly treated in the neck-and-neck title raceCredit: Rex
      This Mercedes could have given Max Verstappen the title already, had he been driving it, according to the Red Bull aceCredit: AP
      But the Red Bull racer is under no doubt as to who has been the best driver in 2021, given his rival’s superior car.
      Verstappen said: “You should think like that if you are a Formula One driver, so I say yes.
      “But I don’t need to hear that from anyone else. I don’t need that recognition. I find it much more important what I think and what people who are close to me think.
      “If I had been in his car, the season would have been decided long ago.”
      That is some shade thrown in Hamilton’s, direction given the two have often traded accusations about the legality of each other’s car all season.
      Hamilton was quick to question Red Bull’s rear wing while Verstappen himself picked up a £43,000 fine for breaking F1 rules and touching the Merc rear wing in parc ferme in Brazil.
      Clearly the suspicion over whether the Merc is completely within the rules remains and Red Bull boss failed to rule out the possibility of a protest on Sunday in Abu Dhabi when he was asked directly by SunSport on Thursday.
      Such is the bitterness that now runs between the two teams, Verstappen cannot even bring himself to say Hamilton’s name.
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      After it was pointed out to him, he confirmed: “That’s right. That happens during a season like this. Too much has happened for that.
      “Not just through that moment [the first lap crash at Silverstone], but throughout the season. The image I have of certain people has changed. And no, not in a positive way.
      “It doesn’t matter to me, it’s not that I hate it. But I’ve seen that when the pressure comes on, certain people show a different face. Then their true colours come out.”
      Verstappen has been warned by the FIA that he must keep the fight clean – or risk being hit with a points penalty.
      If I had been in his car, the season would have been decided long ago.Max Verstappen
      It was an unprecedented step from the race stewards to remind the drivers of their conduct ahead of this finale in Abu Dhabi.
      However, Verstappen says he will NOT be changing his tactics having taken pole for Sunday’s crunch race.
      He said in an interview with De Telegraaf: “I don’t want to take him out, I want to beat him. That’s another word. Some people find me aggressive, others very aggressive and some people don’t.
      “I am myself. The last races I have to defend more because we are a bit slower. I don’t have the luxury of pulling away in the lead now.
      Lewis Hamilton must beat Max Verstappen in the final race to retain the titleCredit: Getty
      “Yes, I do everything I can to win. If I don’t think like that, I’d better stay home.
      “If I hadn’t had that attitude, we wouldn’t be here with an equal number of points. Then he would already be the champion.”
      There was a clear sense of relief on Saturday as Verstappen took pole with a comfortable 0.371 second advantage over Hamilton.
      He celebrated with a clenched fist while his rival was already starting his debrief into his own performance.
      Former world champion, Nico Rosberg, says he could not sleep before his duel with Hamilton in 2016 – and last night, Verstappen was looking forward to getting a good night’s sleep.
      He added: “I was very relaxed going into qualifying.
      “I always do the best I can and I know my team always gives me the best possible car.
      An amazing battle. I am grateful I have had such a close battle with Max and his team.Lewis Hamilton
      “We have been doing that already the whole year and again, it worked really well. This year we have been pushing each other to the limit.
      “We really are trying to get everything out of our cars to the last lap, the last corner. It has been really enjoyable for most of the time.
      “In 20 years time myself and people will look back on it and remember this year.”
      Even Hamilton had to agree with his rival that this season has been a titanic tussle for the title.
      He said: “It has been an incredible year. An amazing battle. I am grateful I have had such a close battle with Max and his team.
      “They have done an exceptional job, shown true strength and pushed us to the limit in ways that we needed, I hope we have many more seasons like this.” More

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      Lewis Hamilton hints at Max Verstappen tyre ‘CONSPIRACY’ as title rival ‘deliberately’ locked up before Abu Dhabi pole

      by

      LEWIS HAMILTON says Max Verstappen DELIBERATELY locked up in qualifying as part of a title decider ‘conspiracy’.The Dutchman took a scintillating pole position lap hailed by Red Bull boss Christian Horner as one of the best of the year.
      Lewis Hamilton believes Max Verstappen deliberately locked-up at Turn OneCredit: EPA
      It was a far cry from his disappointment just seven days ago when he hit the wall at the final turn on another flying lap.
      But the small lock-up – in the unusually dramatic middle section – could have huge implications in this weekend’s thrilling championship battle, Verstappen now set to start in Abu Dhabi on different tyres to Hamilton.
      And it did not go unnoticed by Hamilton, who seemed to accuse his rival of ruining his tyres on purpose.
      Hamilton said: “It was interesting that lock-up into Turn One. A conspiracy but no one locks up into Turn One and if you do it is not a big one.
      “I think they did it deliberately so they chose to go on to the soft tyre.”
      Why could it prove so crucial? F1 rules state that drivers have to start the race on the same set of tyres they set their quickest lap in Q2.
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      Verstappen’s lock-up came on a set of medium, yellow-walled, tyres, as he slid while trying to slow down his Red Bull.
      It caused a flat-spot on his tyre – the upshot was it would hamper his performance at the start of the race.
      It meant that Red Bull were forced to swap him on to the quicker but less durable soft tyre, with the red walls.
      That means Verstappen will likely benefit from better pace off the line.
      However he could be reeled in by Hamilton in the race as they are less durable and Verstappen will have to pit first.
      It leaves the race delicately poised as Hamilton and Verstappen will start the race on different strategies in what will prove to pitch the two team’s at each other.
      “I think they did it deliberately so they chose to go on to the soft tyre.”Lewis Hamilton
      Hamilton however, thinks he is on the right tyre choice.
      He added: “I hope we are on the right one and time will tell, but if they have the degradation we think will happen to the soft tyre, we will be in a good place.”
      Pole position means the omens are good for Verstappen, as the last six winners of this race have started P1, the strategic game of chess promises to be captivating.
      For Hamilton, he took another swipe at Verstappen saying that he actually prefers to be starting BEHIND the Dutchman.
      He quipped: “I’m still on the front row, we’ve got the difference between the tyres and I’m grateful I can see where he is.”
      The reference was to their controversial coming together in Monza where Verstappen went over the top of his Merc, or perhaps their recent duel in Saudi Arabia.
      Despite having missed out on pole, Hamilton was nonetheless pleased with lining up in second but did fire a shot at teammate, Valtteri Bottas.
      He also said he felt Red Bull’s tactics of using Sergio Perez to give Verstappen a tow should be outlawed.
      Max Verstappen will start in pole position at the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand PrixCredit: Getty
      The Red Bull team tactics were also slammed by HamiltonCredit: Rex
      It is difficult to agree with the Brit, who has ironically benefited from the tactic in the past where one driver is sacrificed to give the other the benefit of slipstream.
      In this instance the Mexican performed the perfect slingshot around Turn Nine of Verstappen’s flying lap that secured him pole.
      Verstappen said: “That first run was very nice, and a nice tow and nicely executed as well.
      “Whatever the gap was, I might have gained a tenth towards turn nine, which is not a massively long straight.
      “Nevertheless, Checo [Perez] is a great team-mate, a real pleasure to work with, so a big thank you to him.”
      Hamilton, however, said the practice should be stopped and added: “We’ve never, ever really done that.
      “I like Valtteri to focus on…we work as a team and Valtteri needed to get the best job done for himself to have both of us as high up as possible.
      “It’s never something we discuss or we work on and I don’t believe it should have been done.”
      Meanwhile, Hamilton, who was booed after qualifying by the orange-clad Verstappen fans, said he would use the jeers as “fuel”.
      And he said he is feeling “a million times better” than when he was last fighting for the title on the final day of the season – back in 2016 when he lost out to Nico Rosberg.
      He said: “I feel] a million times different. It’s a much, much different scenario. Completely different and a million times better I feel now than I did then. I feel good.
      “It is not something I particularly want to go into. I am just in a different place in life than in 2016
      “[I’m] facing different resistance in life and this time I’m just in a different and much happier place.”
      When asked if he is a better driver now than when he battled with Rosberg, Hamilton added: “Yes. And teammate.” More