Hamilton v Verstappen - why Ricciardo has given up predicting champion

Daniel Ricciardo has stopped giving predictions for the season finale in Abu Dhabi as Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton's title fight has altered so often.

The two protagonists enter the final race of the season level on points, with Hamilton taking victory and Verstappen runner-up in each of the last three races.

Both drivers have led at various points of the season, with predictions often being thrown out of the window by on-track drama changing the championship picture.

Asked ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix who he thought would emerge victorious, McLaren driver Ricciardo replied: "I have stopped giving predictions.

"At moments I have thought Max and at other moments I have thought Lewis. It is so hard to read.

"Ultimately, it is really great for the sport that the fight is going down to the wire, equal on points. It is cool.

"You talk about a whole season but ultimately it is about whoever has the better Abu Dhabi weekend.

"You break it down, it is whoever does this weekend better than the other and they will become champion. It is that simple."

Sitting alongside Ricciardo, Aston Martin's Lance Stroll suggested another titanic battle could play out despite Hamilton's form favouring a win for the Mercedes driver.

"It is going to go down to the wire," said Stroll.

"As Daniel said, it is going to come down to this weekend. Lewis has the momentum right now but Max isn't going to go down without a fight as we saw last weekend in Saudi [Arabia] so it should be interesting."

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