Verstappen set to give it all to win epic battle
MAX VERSTAPPEN will “give it all” to win the Formula One title this weekend
The 24-year-old is vying for his maiden world championship and goes into the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix level on points with the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton.
The pair have put on quite a show this year and have both led the drivers’ standings at different points of a season that will live long in the memory.
Verstappen had been the favourite for the title until Hamilton secured a hat-trick of wins in Brazil, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, but the Red Bull driver is still determined to take the crown as he aims for back-to-back wins at the Yas Marina Circuit.
“Last year is not always a good reference in terms of result as there were multiple factors that contributed to it,” he said. “We’ve been lacking a bit of pace for the past few races, but hopefully that won’t be the case this weekend.
“The Yas Marina Circuit has had a few changes and the track is much faster now. It’s going to be interesting to see how it will affect the set-up of the car.
“It has been an epic battle so far. We’ve had a lot of wins and good moments this year and we’ve been a lot more competitive in general, compared to the years before.
“We are level on points and I know that we as a team are going to give it all to win this
Championship. This is going to be an exciting race and we want to finish the season in the best way possible.”
The changes to the Yas Marina Circuit have been made to make the season finale even more exciting for drivers and fans.
Ross Brawn, Formula
One’s managing director of motorsport, said: “I think it will present a new challenge to the drivers. I think they are going to enjoy it a lot more.
The simulations we have done show the new Abu Dhabi is a better racing track with more opportunities for overtaking. I’m keen to see what the drivers say about it.”
Three main areas of the track have been reconfigured to help overall speed, pursuing and overtaking. A chicane has been removed, with a wider hairpin now forming turn seven, while four tight corners, 11 to 14, have also gone, replaced by one long, cambered turn.
Further alterations at the hotel section, turns 17 to 20, have been made to allow the cars to run closer together in an attempt to boost the number of overtaking opportunities on the circuit.
Meanwhile, Mercedes have ended their sponsorship deal with Kingspan, saying it is “not appropriate” to continue the partnership. Kingspan’s logo appeared on Hamilton’s helmet at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday, sparking protests after it emerged Kingspan products were used in Grenfell Tower, where 72 people were killed in a fire four years ago.