Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen speak up on multiple topics ahead of the big F1 Abu Dhbai GP finale and decider as rivals have their say of the battle.
The final press conference of the 2021 F1 season ended on a somber note with Mercedes’ Hamilton and Red Bull’s Verstappen the final pair to speak up. Some expected more barbs at each other, but it was more carefully traded talks and much controlled language.
Verstappen already spoke his mind before the press conference to online media where he did speak up his mind regarding the penalties he had in Saudi Arabia and bit more of his thoughts about Hamilton and Mercedes on the whole.
In the press conference, they each touched on the work done by their respective teams and then elaborated on a chance of collision this weekend plus sporting code reminder along with a fair end to the year rather than decision being made in stewards room.
Both Hamilton and Verstappen agreed that no talks were needed between them where the Dutchman did add about the stewards decision, while the Brit elaborated on the Turn 1 incident. On his jumper with ‘fu*k off’ written, he summed it as a mere co-incidence.
Both were happy that Ziggo and Channel 4 will broadcast the race for free for a wider audience as their rivals then went on to speak on who they see as a winner. Most agreed that the fight has spiraled down badly, especially on the social media.
Verstappen:
Red Bull bouncing back –
Verstappen: “After last year I didn’t have a lot of hope that we would be sitting here at the end of the season fighting for the title. But I think from the start we were very competitive and we had some good results, a bit of bad luck as well, but overall we can be really proud of the whole team effort.”
Chance of collision –
Verstappen: “As a driver, you don’t think about these things. You just go into a weekend when you want to do the best that you can as a team and of course you try to win the race, but naturally the media starts to say these things. I don’t really have a lot more to comment on that. I arrived here just trying to do the best that I can and trying to be the best prepared and of course naturally trying to win this weekend.”
Sporting code reminder –
Verstappen: “I know what is in the sporting code, so nobody needs to be really reminded of that. I think they can put it in every single race weekend, there is nothing newly added for this weekend.”
Fair deciding and not in stewards room, etc –
Verstappen: “I think already throughout the year, there have been a few things which were maybe a bit controversial. It is what it is, you can’t really do anything about it. But I think we just have to focus on the positive for this weekend. And we just want action on track. I think from both sides, we want to win, clearly. It should be about that, not about controversial decisions.”
Stewards decision from Jeddah, if talks needed with Hamilton –
Verstappen: “Clearly for me, there are some different rules for me compared to some other drivers out there. I am clear on what I can do, but somehow it is not allowed but is allowed for other drivers. I don’t think we need to sit down. We are both here to win and we will do, of course, everything to win and win the championship ultimately, whatever is necessary in terms of points. We have raced well together for the whole year and we have put on a good show for everyone at the end of the day. Hopefully we can do that for everyone here.”
Ziggo showing finale for free –
Verstappen: “Of course. It’s great for the people to be able to watch it. And I think also you know, for us it’s even more special because the first time a Dutch driver has a chance of winning a championship. Hopefully, a lot of people will tune in.”
Hamilton:
Mercedes’ performance –
Hamilton: “I think it has been an incredible group effort from everyone back at the factory and at the track. Nobody has ever done eight before, but I feel grateful. And I remember what it is also like going for your first so I’ve had those experiences and the rollercoasters of emotions that you go through.”
Chance of collision –
Hamilton: “I can’t control those things around me, all I can do is control what I do in terms of preparation and how I conduct myself. I honestly just don’t give it any energy. I am here to do the best job that I can with this incredible team. And going back again, we never thought that we would be neck and neck going into this final race. We had an amazing recovery collectively as a team and we’ve been in a great position for these last few races. We will go full steam ahead with that same focus and we don’t waste energy on things that are out of our control.”
Sporting code reminder –
Hamilton: “Firstly I think it has happened in the past and I am sure the stewards haven’t taken the precautions they have this time around. So I think that is fair that they do it. Hopefully they won’t need to be used and we have a great race and move forwards. But I don’t think I have a particular opinion about it otherwise, I am here to do my job and I don’t want to see the stewards any more than they want to see me!”
Calling Verstappen crazy and if he means –
Verstappen: “Honestly, when we’re in the races we will say all sorts of things because we’re in the heat of the moment, adrenaline is firing, your emotions are on edge, so yeah, I would say it was a figure of speech. I think ultimately, as drivers we’re all a bit crazy to be able to do what we do and take the risks that we do.”
Fair deciding and not in stewards room, etc –
Hamilton: “Going into the weekend, I don’t put any energy towards that sort of thing. I think at the end of the day, I truly do believe that everyone here racing comes to win. I would like to believe everyone wants to do it the right way. And so I don’t even let that creep into my mind. I’m here for a great race. We’re arriving on the positive as a team, we’ve got the car in a great place. They won here last year. So without doubt, they’re going to be strong this weekend. But I think we’ve chased and caught up a lot. And I think we can come here and be strong this weekend.”
Revisiting moments from Jeddah especially Turn 1 –
Hamilton: “I find that kind of strange. Because firstly, I’m able to use all of the track. I’ve obviously gone past Max. And I was completely by, so it wasn’t like I was alongside him and then pushed him away. And I wanted to make sure I got the best exit. So, I went wide on the way in. Max tried, I think, I’ve not rewatched it, but I think tried to come down the outside, but there wasn’t space there. So, then I got a good exit as planned. I didn’t go outside the white line. It wasn’t trying to intentionally push him out. I actually didn’t think he was there because I thought that I’d passed him and he was behind.”
Talks needed –
Hamilton: “I don’t think so. As Max mentioned, there are lots of races and lots of good and obviously lots of incidents but I would like to think we have learned from all of these things and can move forwards.”
Free show from Channel 4 –
Hamilton: “I grew up in an era when it was free. And remember being able to turn on many years ago. I know that’s the way the world has gone obviously with pay-TV. But I think that’s amazing. Particularly in a time that we live in right now where people have been affected so heavily by COVID – people lost jobs, businesses –and so I think that’s great. It’s a great gift, I think, at this point of the year for people to be able to watch a sport and not have to worry how they were going to be able to watch it.”
But what do some of the rivals in F1 think as to who will win between Hamilton and Verstappen?
Vettel: Well, Michael is my hero. For that reason I probably don’t want Lewis to win. But the truth is they’ve both had a strong season, they are going into the last race with the opportunity to win this championship because they both deserve it. So in a way I’d be happy if Michael’s record still stands, because to me, Michael is still the greatest but if Lewis can win one more, two more, three more world championships, it doesn’t change anything for me. And I get along with Lewis; the gut says I want Max to win to keep Michael’s record alive but my head is quite clean or clear, may the better man win.”
Alonso: “It will depend on the package a little bit; Mercedes lately have been more performing and they’ve won a couple of races now, but Max is driving – in my opinion – one step ahead of all of us. We saw the qualifying lap in Jeddah, until he touched the wall at the last corner, that lap was coming from Max, not the Red Bull. In a way, that’s my opinion: Mercedes deserve the constructors’ championship because the car is superior and Max, maybe overall in the year, was driving one step ahead of everyone. It’s not that I support Max, it’s that he deserves it, in my opinion.”
Raikkonen: “Honestly, whoever has the most points will win. I don’t know if there is a right or wrong in who is going to win it, it doesn’t matter for me who wins but if I had to choose one, I would go with the Red Bull to win it, just something different, you know?”
Ricciardo: “I’ve stopped giving predictions! At moments I’ve thought Max; at moments I’ve thought Lewis. It’s so hard to read, ultimately, it’s really great for the sport that the fight’s going down to the wire, equal on points, it’s cool… But ultimately, it’s whoever has a good Abu Dhabi weekend, it’s whoever does better in Abu Dhabi, they’ll become champ. It’s that simple.”
Sainz: “I think it’s an ideal scenario for Formula 1, I think it’s super exciting to watch – even I went back to my room on Sunday night, I tuned in and replayed the race to see what the hell happened up front and why everyone was talking about what had happened and I had the chance to watch it, and you realise how tight this battle is; every race you have a fight between the two championship contenders and how exciting this is for Formula 1. Unfortunately, on Twitter… it is definitely polarised and it makes it less exciting when you see the two sides fighting each other so much. I think just be a bit more neutral, enjoy the fight and let the best man win. I’m not going to comment personally on who has been the better driver, if I will say one, one side will criticise me and say ‘no, Lewis had a better car’; if I say Max… it’s too polarised so I don’t want to take a stance as it doesn’t make sense on how polarised it is on social media. I think they’ve both done a brilliant season, at an incredible level. From my side I just wish they can keep it clean for the image of the sport as much as anything else, for the benefit of Formula 1. That we are still a sport not only a show, so show good sportsmanship and put on a good show in the finale.”
Gasly: “Well, I think it’s amazing for our sport to have two drivers from two different teams racing for the world championship in the last race and being tied after that many races. Both of them have done an amazing season. As a motorsport fan I even enjoy watching the highlights after the race as I don’t get to see them. On Sunday night I got back to the hotel and watched the highlights from Saudi Arabia and was like, ‘whoa’. That was a great race to watch in terms of battles they gave us and how close it gets between the two and the limits they are pushing between each other. So just an amazing time for the entire F1 community and our sport in general and I’m just really excited to see which way it goes this weekend. I think Max will have the edge, I’m not sure they’ll finish the race but I think Max and Red Bull will get it.”
Schumacher: “Well, I think that nothing is decided yet so I can’t tell you how I feel about the prospect of my dad’s record being broken. Obviously, I think that my feelings are respect for both of them, that this year only they can win the championship. Yes, it will for sure be interesting to see and, whoever wins will win, I can’t do anything about that.”
Russell: “For me I’d love to see Lewis win. I think what he has achieved, especially recently, is pretty exceptional, to even be in the fight altogether when Red Bull had such a far superior car at the start of the year; when you look back, Mercedes managed to win, I think, three of the first four races when Red Bull were clearly the quickest package out there. Max has done an exceptional job; you can argue that they both deserve to win for different reasons but hopefully it’s a clean and fair race and the best man wins.”
Stroll: “It’s going to go down to the wire, It’s really about this weekend. Lewis seems to have the momentum right now but Max isn’t going to go down without a fight as we saw last weekend in Saudi, so should be interesting.”
Mazepin: “I think experience – in that respect, I think Lewis has the upper hand, I think Mercedes have done a fantastic job. But Max, a new face as well – I really like them both, as humans, as athletes, as racing drivers as well. So don’t make me choose.”
Tsunoda: “Max, of course.”
Here’s FIA on the Sporting Code reminder
Here’s Nikita Mazepin and Lewis Hamilton on Saudi incident
Here’s Toto Wolff and Christian Horner on the title ending
Here’s all what was said by Mercedes and Red Bull duo plus FIA
