Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen head for final battle
The two title contenders start on different types of tyres, after Verstappen made a mistake and locked up in the second part of qualifying and damaged the set he wanted to use for the opening stint.
It is only seven days since Verstappen was penalised no less than three times for driving offences of one kind or another in Saudi Arabia, the last of which was a 'brake test', in which he hit the brakes with Hamilton right behind him, and the Mercedes hit him, despite Hamilton's attempt to veer to the side.
On Friday, the point was re-emphasised in the drivers' briefing, with the four stewards listening in. Verstappen started the weekend complaining that he was being treated differently from other drivers by the stewards. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has been making all kinds of claims about Mercedes in interviews in the days before the race, many of which have had eyes rolling among impartial and disinterested members of other teams.
"Lewis has won already so many championships," he said. "But this year we have been pushing each other, certainly in some races, to the limit.
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