Lewis Hamilton Max Verstappen battle has become F1 version of UFC - Coulthard

Hamilton, Verstappen, Mercedes, Red Bull, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia — Photo: © LAT Images

Lewis Hamilton v Max Verstappen

Hamilton Verstappen battle has become F1 version of UFC - Coulthard

Drivers will duel one final time in Abu Dhabi

GPFans Staff

Wednesday 8 December 2021 18:29

David Coulthard has suggested Lewis Hamilton's battle with Max Verstappen for the F1 title has become the sport's version of UFC.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has become renowned for its 'anything goes' style inside an octagon-shaped cage, with two fighters engaging in mixed martial arts.

Sunday's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix turned into F1's on-track version of the sport, according to former F1 championship runner-up Coulthard, as Hamilton and Verstappen engaged in a number of wheel-to-wheel fights that went over the edge.

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Verstappen, in particular, was penalised on two occasions for running Hamilton off track and for effectively brake testing the Mercedes driver which led to a collision.

“If we look at UFC, as far as I know, there are only two rules and it’s about below the belt and about the eyes, and everything else goes,” said Coulthard, speaking on the F1 Nation podcast.

“This now feels like Formula 1 has been redefined as F1 UFC, and pretty much anything is going, and then the stewards are stepping in.”

Verstappen and Red Bull "to give it our all"

For only the second time in F1 history - the other in 1974 - two drivers go into the final race of the season tied on points.

It is a winner-takes-all scenario in a bid to become champion, with Hamilton chasing his eighth that would set a new outright record and Verstappen his first.

Reflecting on the year and assessing the race ahead, Verstappen said: "We’ve had a lot of wins and good moments this year, and we’ve been a lot more competitive in general, compared to the years before.

"So as a team, we can be very pleased and proud of what we have achieved this season.

"We are level on points and I know that we as a team are going to give it our all to win this championship.

"This is going to be an exciting race and we want to finish the season in the best way possible."