The paddock has landed in Abu Dhabi for the final race of the season this weekend. Mercedes are looking good to win another constructors’ title but the drivers’ championship is too close to call, even now. The two title rivals are heading into the final race tied on points. Lewis Hamilton has been exceptional in the last three races where he finished at the top each time. However, Max Verstappen has an added advantage going into the season finale as he has nine wins to Hamilton’s eight.

In this scenario, Verstappen will get his maiden title if both the drivers don’t finish the race. Some pundits are speculating that the Dutchman might deliberately cause an incident pushing the Briton off the grid. However, the FIA race director Michael Masi has made it clear that F1 rules are in place and any mischief will cost these drivers crucial points or worse, the championship itself.

Max Verstappen will do “anything to win”

The 24-year-old has been impressive in the past seasons. He holds the record for youngest F1 driver and Youngest Grand Prix winner to date. However, this time the stakes are higher than ever. Red Bull are searching for their lost glory and Max Verstappen is the man who can bring that back. Throughout the season, but especially after the last race, the driver has been criticized for his aggressive push-beyond-limits driving style. He received a time penalty in Jeddah for his “erratic breaking” which caused a collision with Hamilton‘s Mercedes W-12.

The Dutchman is determined to win this battle and is ready to push to the limits once again in Abu Dhabi. “The rules have always provided for this possibility, there was no need to remind us,” said the 24-year-old as reported by Formulapassion. 

” I will do anything to win,“ he added.

In addition to that, the Dutchman made it clear that he is well aware of the rules and he is not looking to discuss them with Hamilton. The Mercedes driver took a jibe at him after the Saudi Arabia GP, saying that overtaking rules don’t apply to some drivers. Max responded to these accusations of “brake testing” and responded in a cold and straightforward manner.

“The rules are clear, for me, they haven’t changed. I won’t sit down and talk to Lewis about it, we’re here to race, not to talk, ” concluded Verstappen.

We have reached Abu Dhabi, where these words will reciprocate into actions on the track. Fans are looking forward to the end of this season-long battle. Tell us who you are betting your bucks on for this year’s drivers’ champion.

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