Formula 1, Abu Dhabi GP: With just 72 hours left before there is 2021 world drivers’ champion, there is bad blood between Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Tied on points, both will clash at the Yas Marina circuit on Sunday. But ahead of the crucial race day, Hamilton has refused to sit down and talk to Verstappen to clear the air. Follow F1 Abu Dhabi GP Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Lewis Hamilton does not want to have any discussions with Verstappen after he accused the Red Bull No 1 of break-testing him. The reigning champion drove 22 laps with a broken front wing. The FIA has already warned both drivers that any “unsporting” behaviour on track will lead to points deduction which will eventually lose either of them the title.
Formula 1, Abu Dhabi GP: Lewis Hamilton snubs title rival Max Verstappen to clear-the-air on Saudi Arabian GP incident
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“For me, it is quite clear, nothing changes for me. I don’t think we need to sit down,” Lewis Hamilton said.
However, Max Verstappen continues to claim that F1 stewards treated him unfairly and the five-second gap was unjustified.
“Clearly things don’t apply for everyone because the things I did in terms of defending, two other guys also and they didn’t get a mention or penalty. I don’t understand because I thought I was just racing hard. What happened for me clearly didn’t deserve any penalty,” Verstappen said after the race in Saudi Arabia.
Formula 1, Abu Dhabi GP: Lewis Hamilton snubs title rival Max Verstappen to clear-the-air on Saudi Arabian GP incident
The Flying Dutchman was hit with a five-place grid penalty at Qatar GP after ignoring a double-waved yellow flag warning. He was then given a 10-second and a five-second penalty in Saudi. The first one was for causing a collision between him and Hamilton and then for going wide.
“It is only me who gets it. Fighting at the front people are a bit more critical I guess but for me I don’t understand. For me, I was not wrong. Clearly only I was wrong somehow, like I said other people do exactly the same thing and get nothing,” Max Verstappen said.
Formula 1 – Abu Dhabi GP: Lewis Hamilton hungry for success, eyes record eighth title
Max Verstappen lamented that the stewards gave favourable rulings for his rival Hamilton while he was punished.
“Both of us [Verstappen and Hamilton] were off the track in to Turn One and somehow they judged that it was my fault. That I don’t agree with. Afterwards he [Hamilton] pushes me off the track, he even looks at me, he doesn’t turn in, he just pushes me outside the white line and he only gets a warning for that. It’s not how it should be. It is not fair because it seems like other drivers can do different things, and it seems like only I get a penalty,” Max Verstappen said.
Formula 1, Abu Dhabi GP: Lewis Hamilton snubs title rival Max Verstappen to clear-the-air on Saudi Arabian GP incident
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