Wolff "under no illusion" of Hamilton Verstappen Abu Dhabi title showdown

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is convinced the F1 championship race between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen will go all the way to the wire.

The lead in the drivers' championship has changed hands a number of times over the course of the campaign so far, with Hamilton six points adrift of Verstappen going into the final six races.

In the constructors' standings, Mercedes has outscored Red Bull by 24 points since the summer break to extend its constructors' lead to 36 points.

Despite Mercedes' recent pace advantage, Wolff would not be drawn into suggesting his team now had the upper hand.

“I don’t think you can say that with absolute conviction," remarked Wolff. "I believe we have a really good package now.

"The car is competitive and was very competitive [in Turkey] and if it wasn’t for a grid penalty I think we would have had every chance to finish first and second.

“That would have meant eight points more but I’m looking carefully optimistic into the future.

"Austin [for the United States Grand Prix] is a track we like and is another opportunity but I’m under no illusion this is very much going to go to the end in the drivers’ championship.”

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