F1 News LIVE: Max Verstappen risks his reputation to rival Lewis Hamilton, warns Martin Brundle

[ad_1]

Verstappen and Hamilton move to F1 season finale on points

Catch all the latest news from Formula 1 as the fallout continues for Saudi Arabia ahead of the final Grand Prix of the season in Abu Dhabi this weekend, where Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen will be crowned world champions 2021.

Hamilton and Verstappen are equal on points in the final race after Hamilton’s chaotic win in Jeddah, which came after the two teams faced each other several times including physical contact when Verstappen abruptly slowed under orders to allow Hamilton to overtake him, after he illegally stuck to the lead. earlier at night. Hamilton was unprepared and hit his opponent’s rear, damaging his front wing. Six laps later, Verstappen finally handed the lead to Hamilton, who went on to win.

The result means Hamilton, who is chasing an eighth world title, is tied on points with Verstappen, chasing his first championship for what will surely be an impressive F1 career. Both have 369.5 points and head into this weekend’s final in Abu Dhabi with everything to play for. Follow all the latest news and updates below.

F1 newsShow last update 1638881458F1 news

Red Bull boss Christian Horner says he wants Max Verstappen to win the Formula 1 championship the right way, as his driver heads to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the end of the season on points with rival Lewis Hamilton.

“You want to win on the track. Not in the stewards’ room, not in a gravel trap,” Horner said after the chaos at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday.

“It has been a tough battle all year long. There have been some great races between these two drivers, and I hope it will be a fair and clean race in Abu Dhabi.”

Jimmy Braidwood December 7, 2021 12:50

1638880258F1 NEWS

Red Bull “doesn’t treat the same” to rival Mercedes, according to team advisor Helmut Marko, after Max Verstappen sustained two kicks at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Verstappen was given a five-second penalty for forcing Hamilton into a touchdown as his championship rivals approached, which was followed by a 10-second penalty after Verstappen unexpectedly ran into Hamilton when he was ordered to let him through, causing a collision.

After the race, Marko insisted that Verstappen was not to blame and that his team had been unfairly punished, while there was leniency with Hamilton for his driving in the second half when he was more than 10 cars behind Verstappen in a formation cycle.

“[Hamilton] He crashed into our car and unfortunately put two pieces in the rear tire. It was so cruel that we were no longer able to attack. “We had to go fast,” Marco said.

“That was the only thing. The next thing was in the second start, Hamilton was over 10 [car] lengths behind. [Sebastian] Vettel was punished in Budapest when he did so. But with this maneuver is [Hamilton] He was preparing his frame better at first.

“Then Max pushed, and there was no reaction. So we feel we are not being treated the same.”

Jimmy Braidwood December 7, 2021 12:30

1638879058F1 NEWS

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has claimed that Lewis Hamilton would have won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix even if Max Verstappen had started in pole position.

Verstappen looks set to secure the top spot for the penultimate race of the season until his dramatic crash in the final qualifying race.

Mercedes was surprised by Red Bull’s pace but remained confident they had the advantage in the long term.

“even in [Verstappen] Starting from first wouldn’t have made much of a difference, because our car was only stronger,” Wolff told the F1 Nation Podcast.

“But the race was so chaotic, so confusing that I think we could have lost the race twice because of the damage and in the end, first and third place is great.”

Jimmy Braidwood December 7, 2021 12:10

1638877880F1 NEWS

Enzo Fittipaldi suffered a broken heel but survived another injury after his horrific crash with Theo Burshire in the F2 race in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

After Pourchaire stopped on the starting line, Fittipaldi, grandson of Formula 1 legend Emerson Fittipaldi, crashed into the back of the car in front of him in a disgusting accident.

Both drivers were airlifted to hospital but were conscious after the accident.

“Enzo is awake/vigil and resting in hospital,” Fittipaldi’s brother, Pietro Fittipaldi, said. “He has a fracture in his right heel but fortunately things are much better than we all expected. Thank you to the FIA, the team and all the medical staff here in Saudi Arabia.”

Jimmy Braidwood December 7, 2021 11:51

1638876776F1 NEWS

FIA Racing Director Michael Massey has gone on to explain a number of his decisions at the chaotic and controversial Saudi Grand Prix on Sunday.

The first-ever race at Jeddah’s Corniche circuit was halted twice due to a red flag stop and there were heated discussions between Masi and the teams.

After Max Verstappen gained an advantage off the track after battling rival Lewis Hamilton for the title, Massey at one point offered Red Bull the option of returning a place rather than risk the interference of the hosts.

The conversation between the FIA ​​and the team was broadcast live on television, with Red Bull boss Christian Horner later describing the negotiations as being in a “domestic market”.

Horner also claimed that F1 was missing the “experience” of former race director Charlie Whiting, but Massey defended his handling of the race and insisted his switch with Red Bull was a “normal discussion”.

Jimmy Braidwood December 7, 2021 11:32

1638875458F1 NEWS

Lewis Hamilton’s bid to win an eighth Formula 1 world title should be shown for free in the UK, according to a group of prominent MPs and their peers in the House of Lords.

Hamilton heads to the Saudi Grand Prix at the end of the season on points with Max Verstappen – the first time since 1974 that the two leading drivers are equal on points reaching the final round.

Sky Sports own the rights to Formula One in the UK and they face calls to make the final race of what has been a captivating season available for everyone to watch, in the same way Emma Raducanu was won at the US Open in September. Free to Air by Amazon Prime in a deal with Channel 4.

The calls were led by Lord Heine, co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Motorsports, who told The Telegraph: “I hope Sky will partner with Free To Air TV to make this historic event available to all the millions who want to watch and cheer on Lewis, the biggest global sports star.” Britain is absolutely on the threshold of Formula 1 immortality.”

Jimmy Braidwood December 7, 2021 11:10

1638874558 F1 News

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff hopes the Formula 1 title battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen will not be decided by a “chaotic situation”.

Verstappen and Hamilton head into the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on a points level, but the risk of a race-end collision between the drivers was made clear during Sunday’s chaotic Saudi Grand Prix.

Hamilton was pushed away by Verstappen in a crash at Turn 4 before the rivals crashed in a bizarre crash when he ordered Red Bull to return the place to the seven-time world champion.

“I hope so [Sunday’s] “The race has enough ramifications that everyone will learn and adapt to the final race,” Wolff said.

“Similar leadership, if deemed by the hosts to have crossed the line, would likely be punished as well in Abu Dhabi, and that could end in chaos for everyone. I don’t think the championship was worth a crash-affected result.

“Emotions run great too. As long as we have a clean race fighting for the Drivers’ World Championship in Abu Dhabi, it has been a great season.”

Jimmy Braidwood December 7, 2021 10:55

1638873541 F1 News

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton will head into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the end of the season with points points, although the Red Bull driver will win the championship for the first time if neither driver finishes the race with nine wins this season to Hamilton’s eight.

Martin Brundle says the 24-year-old is “playing the game” by being forced to stand on the back foot because the risk of being out of the race is much greater.

“He’s been playing the game given that, with his points advantage, Hamilton simply can’t have an accident with him and miss an opportunity to reduce the points deficit,” said Brandel.

“So far despite being completely level on points going into the final round, for the first time in Formula One since 1974, that’s still the case given that he has a 9-8 race win if there is a count back.

“It is Max’s control of the car and his sometimes cunning that he is able to perform such daring moves and leaves a margin of doubt as to whether the race was a difficult one or just a professional error outside the regulations. It is these moments, like the infamous turn in Brazil, that generate confusion, controversies and inconsistencies. “.

Jimmy Braidwood Dec 7, 2021 10:39

News 1638872458F1

Jos Verstappen admits he respects Lewis Hamilton but has hinted that it begins and ends with the exploits of the Mercedes driver on the track.

Max Verstappen’s father has been seen reacting emotionally during the races this season as he leads his son Red Bull to the edge of the F1 title.

But Hamilton, who rose to the occasion in pursuit of his eighth record-breaking title, has nothing to do with the elder Verstappen off the track.

“I never talk to Lewis. He doesn’t need to talk to me. I’m nothing to him. I respect him as a driver, but the rest…nothing,” he told the Daily Mail, “Max and Lewis only talk on the podium, quite a bit. When I see Max with the other drivers, I think they get along very well. But with Louis, nothing. Lewis is in his own world.”

Jimmy Braidwood December 7, 2021 10:20

1638871956 F1 News

Sergio Perez had a disappointing Grand Prix race in Saudi Arabia, but Red Bull once again secured the fastest pit stop in the race.

Red Bull finished 12th in the fastest pit stop of the season with a pit stop of 2.2 seconds for the Mexican. By comparison, Lewis Hamilton’s stopping point was 2.49 seconds

Max Verstappen didn’t stop in the pits during the race because he was able to change his tires, arguably, during his first red flag pit stop.

Red Bull has nine of the 10 fastest pit stops so far this season.

Jimmy Braidwood December 7, 2021 10:12

[ad_2]