Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), tied for the lead in the F1 World Championship, attended a press conference ahead of the final round in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. If, on the track, the two men have often flirted with the correctional this season, they were much more measured in front of the media Thursday.
Are we living the most important moment of your respective careers?
Lewis hamilton : “As a team, we are in uncharted waters. No one has ever won eight championships before. And, with the year we have had, I’m sure many didn’t imagine that we would be so near to the end. It’s the result of incredible teamwork on the track and at the factory. I’m grateful for that. I also remember what it’s like to fight for your first title, I went through these experiences and the emotional lift that it represents. “
Max Verstappen: “In F1, for sure. But I appreciate it a lot. At the end of last year, I didn’t have much hope of being in this position at the end of this season, to fight for a title. But, from the start, we were very competitive. We had good results, a little bit of bad luck too, but, overall, we can be proud of the efforts made by the team and to play the title here. “
There is a lot of speculation about the outcome of the championship this weekend. Do you think the title can be played in an anti-sporting way?
MV: “As a pilot you don’t think about that. (…) Of course the media will say this stuff. I don’t really have a comment to make. I come here trying to to be at my best, to be as prepared as possible and, of course, to win this weekend. “
LH: “Not much to add. In all of this, I can just control my preparation and my own behavior.”
What do you think of the idea that the championship can be decided by a controversial decision of the stewards or the race director?
MV: “I don’t know what’s to come … I think there have already been controversial things this year but that’s how it is, you can’t really change things. I think it We have to focus on the positive this weekend and we just want some action on the track. Clearly, on both sides, we want to win and that should be decided on that, not on controversial decisions. “
LH: “I just don’t put the energy into it. I’m here to have a good race. We’re getting off to a good start with the team. The car is great. They (Red Bull) won here the year. last, so they’ll probably still be strong this weekend. But I think we’ve been chasing behind them all year, gained a lot of ground and can also be strong this weekend. . “
The stage is set – and they’ve arrived! #AbuDhabiGP # F1 @LewisHamilton @ Max33Verstappen pic.twitter.com/WxZa6hPxSd
– Formula 1 (@ F1) December 9, 2021