Abu Dhabi, Dec. 9 (BUS): Lewis Hamilton entered the Yas Marina Circuit in pursuit of history Thursday dressed in head-to-toe purple with an expletive written on the back of his jacket.
Asked if he was sending a message, the hero claimed seven times that he wasn’t aware of what he said until he got dressed. Hamilton said it was purely a coincidence, but it sure looked like he was ready for the end of his title fight with Max Verstappen.
Both drivers have spent the past three days relaxing in Dubai before making their way 75 minutes south for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where the championship will be settled on Sunday.
They tied the standings – the first time since 1974 that title contenders have entered the decisive race equally on points – and this season’s championship battle has been the most dramatic in at least a decade.
As Hamilton and Verstappen sat next to each other at their joint press conference, the F1 Championship trophy was strategically placed between them, and the race was already underway.
No, not for the F1 title, but instead the driver could appear more convincingly as if he had no interest in the world heading towards the end of the climax.
Verstappen, at only 24 years old, is trying to become the first Dutch world champion. He had good control of this title race until last month. Hamilton scored three straight wins to cut all 19 points off Verstappen’s lead in three action-packed races against his new challenger.
Hamilton now has a record eighth title on hand. The only black driver in the World Series could break his relationship with Michael Schumacher by finishing ahead of Verstappen on the 16-lap, 5.28-kilometre (3.28-mile) track.
insult