Max factor tops in desert again
VERSTAPPEN SETS PACE
MAX VERSTAPPEN returned to the track where he won his controversial world crown to set the fastest time in practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix tomorrow.
The Red Bull driver, who has won 14 of the 21 races staged so far on his unstoppable gallop to championship No.2, finished ahead of George Russell.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was third and Lewis Hamilton, right, ended up fourth.
Seven-times world champion Hamilton was top of the timesheets in the opening run before winding up six-tenths of a second adrift of Verstappen’s Red Bull.
The Briton, who has tried to erase the memory of his title defeat here last year, is facing the prospect of ending a season without a victory for the first time in his career.
And his deficit to Verstappen, at a track that should suit the Dutchman, suggests Hamilton’s unique record will come to an end here tomorrow night.
Formula One ruler Mohammed Ben Sulayem says he still speaks to Michael Masi, who was accused of costing Hamilton a record eighth world championship.
Masi was sacked as race director after he fudged the safety car rules – allowing only the cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to unlap themselves – in last year’s winner-takes-all finale. Ben Sulayem, who succeeded Jean Todt as FIA president after the hotly-disputed event, replaced the Australian with two race directors early in his tenure.
“I’m still in touch with Michael,” he revealed. “Michael has a lot of experience but if you keep doing your work, you have to keep away from a lot of media because it can get into your mind.
“Who are the superstars? Nobody other than the drivers.
“We now have a roster for refereeing and for the race director. We can’t rely on one or two race directors but I trust the current and growing team.
“The Premier League are investing £25million in refereeing – we have to invest more in singleseater racing and that’s what I’m doing.
“There are 24 grands prix and six sprint races next year. When I see our management and shake hands with them, you talk about human error and human error comes from stress and overwork.
“Maybe the report [into Abu Dhabi] was not enough but it was a good attempt at transparency.
“Now if we have an issue we are transparent.”