SETTLE F1 TITLE RACE ON TRACK – BRAWN

Formula One motorsport boss Ross Brawn has told Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen that he does not want their championship battle to be decided by another collision.

The sport’s most exciting title race in recent memory took a dramatic twist at the Italian Grand Prix when Hamilton and Verstappen crashed out.

It marked the second coming together between the championship rivals in just five races – less than two months after their 180mph crash at the British Grand Prix in July.

Verstappen was blamed for their latest collision, with the Red Bull driver to serve a three-place grid penalty in Sochi a week on Sunday.

But with eight of a scheduled 22-race calendar still to complete, the prospect of another crash between the title rivals is likely.

“It’s clear both drivers could have avoided it,” said Brawn.

“Ultimately I think it’s another consequence of two guys going head to head and not wanting to give an inch.

“It’s a shame they ended up in the gravel because it could have shaped up to be a great race – and we were deprived of that.

“I wouldn’t say it has changed the dynamic – you’ve got two cockerels in the farmyard at the moment and we are seeing the consequence of it – and I don’t think either will back off at any moment for the rest of the year.

“But I hope the championship is won on the track, not in the barriers or the stewards’ room.”

Hamilton emerged from the collision fortunate to avoid a major injury. The halo which sits above his helmet absorbed the crushing impact of Verstappen’s out-ofcontrol Red Bull.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton trails Verstappen by five points.