Hamilton, Verstappen, Mercedes, Red Bull, Abu Dhabi — Photo: © LAT Images

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Hamilton Verstappen showdown like 'Squid Game' - Horner

The title will be decided in Abu Dhabi

Ewan Gale

Friday 10 December 2021 20:10

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has likened the F1 title battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton to Squid Game.

The Netflix series sees competitors compete in a series of survival games in order to win a cash prize.

Verstappen and Hamilton enter the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix level on points although the Dutchman holds a slight advantage having won nine races to the Mercedes driver's eight.

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The challenge made by Red Bull has been the first sustained assault on Mercedes in the turbo-hybrid era and asked how his camp was feeling ahead of the showdown weekend, Horner replied: "I think the mood is one of excitement.

"Who'd have thought coming into the season we would be here with an outside shot of going for [the constructors'] trophy and level on points.

"It has been an amazing journey, an amazing championship. We have won 10 races, the nine Max has won have matched all his previous victories in previous seasons he has been involved in the sport.

"I think the way we have fought, the way we have pushed in this campaign, nobody has come close to challenging [Mercedes] in the last eight years and here we are, in with a shot, a long shot at the constructors' and equal opportunity at the drivers'.

"I think there is a real feeling of excitement. There is a feeling of enjoyment, it has been intense, frustrating on occasions. We have pushed the limits, we have pushed each other and we have pushed our competitors. Here we are for the final race for the showdown.

"It almost feels a bit like Squid Game that we have finished up here on equal points.

"I think it is going to make compelling viewing on Sunday."

Verstappen "quite simply outstanding"

Verstappen has joined Hamilton as the elite of all drivers at the top of the sport with the pair often duelling with a sizable buffer to the rest of the field.

Regardless of the result on Sunday, Horner insisted the entire team held a sense of pride over the 24-year-old's performances across the campaign.

"As a team, we are incredibly proud of what we have done this year. We are proud of the way we have raced and we are particularly proud of Max," he explained.

"As a 24-year-old young man, to drive under the scrutiny, the pressure, the intensity he has had has been quite simply outstanding.

"To go up against a 36-year-old seven-time world champion, the mental strength he has demonstrated this year in a sport and in a world where we see the scrutiny there is has been outstanding.

"We are incredibly proud with everything he has done and that he is standing here at this race, tied with statistically the best driver of all time.

"It has been an amazing journey and everybody in our team is embracing this challenge and embracing this fight and just looking forward to - win or lose - it has been an amazing journey."