Lewis Hamilton Max Verstappen fight 'most venomous' since Ayrton Senna Alain Prost

Hamilton, Verstappen, Abu Dhabi — Photo: © LAT Images

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Hamilton Verstappen fight 'most venomous' since Senna Prost

Hamilton and Verstappen arrive in Abu Dhabi for the season finale tied on points

Sam Hall

Saturday 11 December 2021 13:10

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen's epic fight to become this year's F1 champion has been the 'most venomous since Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost' according to Zak Brown.

Hamilton and Verstappen enter the final weekend of the season level on 369.5 points in a campaign that has seen numerous flashpoints including two heavy crashes.

Should a collision put both out of the race on Sunday, Verstappen would win the title on countback of race wins with his nine to Hamilton's eight.

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The most famous incident was in 1990 was when Senna dived down the inside of Prost at turn one at Suzuka, causing both drivers to immediately retire, with the Brazilian crowned champion as a result.

Comparing the two rivalries, McLaren Racing CEO Brown said: "The championship fight between Lewis and Max, all year it has been awesome to watch.

“I don’t remember venom between two drivers and teams like this since Senna and Prost.

"Even though there have been championships [with venom], you look back to the Lewis [against] Felipe Massa or [Fernando] Alonso against [Sebastian] Vettel, where those all came down to finales, it didn’t have the anticipation and intensity that this championship has had throughout the entire year.

“And it has had swings. You assumed that Mercedes was going to win and then Max was pretty dominant for a while and then Lewis was on a roll. So that has been edge-of-your-seat stuff.”

Not only has there been venom on the track, but the pit wall has also seen its fair share of action, with team principals Toto Wolff and Christian Horner trading insults.

On Friday, the two shared a cordial handshake, but with the high stakes of the weekend, it is clear the smallest of sparks could trigger an inferno.

“They definitely have a true dislike for each other," assessed Brown of the pair's relationship.

“Although I think you do see them playing to the cameras a bit from time to time."