Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen to deliver the finale "this epic championship deserves"

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

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Hamilton and Verstappen to deliver the finale "this epic championship deserves"

Hamilton will start second behind title rival Verstappen for the season finale

Sam Hall

Sunday 12 December 2021 08:00

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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is 'confident' Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen will keep things "clean" and provide the F1 season with a finale it "deserves".

Verstappen will line up on pole position for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with title rival Lewis Hamilton second.

The two enter the final battle of the season tied on points with Verstappen ahead only on the countback of wins with the Dutchman's nine trumping Hamilton's eight.

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Should neither driver finish the race or score points, Verstappen would be crowned champion by this merit, but ahead of the weekend FIA race director Michael Masi reminded drivers through his event notes that points deductions or higher sanctions can be implemented in extreme cases of foul play.

After Verstappen's penalty for 'brake testing' Hamilton in Saudi Arabia, Wolff revealed he had not spoken to the seven-time champion on how to engage Verstappen in battle, believing Masi's warning will have been received loud and clear.

“I haven’t spoken with Lewis about that because I think the race director sensitised the drivers about the possible consequences," explained Wolff.

“I have no doubt that the drivers will race hard because this is about the Formula 1 world championship but I have confidence that it will be clean, very hard but clean, not pushing anybody off or hitting anybody.

"This is what this epic championship deserves as a final."

Abu Dhabi two-stop "definitely on"

Red Bull and Mercedes will start the race on opposing tyre strategies with Mercedes on the harder medium compound and Red Bull with both cars on the soft.

Due to changes made to the Yas Marina layout since F1 last visited, tyre wear is far higher than before with Wolff confirming the once comfortable one-stop venue could now favour a two-stop strategy.

“The two stop is always a viable variant," added Wolff. "If you think that you can attack and go on a two-stop or you can manage and attempt to make a one-stop which could be tricky at the end.

“I think we need to see. We saw quite some degradation on the soft in the long runs, less so on the medium which makes it exciting in terms of the strategies but definitely also for us.

“A one-stop looks good and a two-stop is definitely on also as a variant.”