The title of Formula 1 World Champion will be played at the last Grand Prix of the season, this Sunday in Saudi Arabia (2 p.m.), between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
The two drivers are tied with 369.5 points before this 23rd Grand Prix of the season.
The epilogue of this rough season, which has seen Hamilton and Verstappen hang on several times, could be played out in front of the commissioners as the tension is palpable and the risk of a collision is high.
Meet at the last corner.
Or at the commissioners.
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, perfectly tied with 369.5 points, will battle for the Formula 1 World Championship title this Sunday in Abu Dhabi (2pm).
After a last crazy Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia, "the craziest", ever experienced by Franck Montagny, former F1 driver and consultant on Canal +, the two drivers will give their all to win the first title of his life for Verstappen, or the eighth, a record, for Hamilton.
Last week, they pulled the plug during the entire race, with several overtaking and manly settling.
“For both of them, they were on the verge of not being well.
Fortunately there was no problem, but it shouldn't go any further, because it could overflow, ”worries Franck Montagny.
"The rules are not always applied in the same way"
Like when Hamilton hit Verstappen's car while he was trying yet another stroke of mischief by returning his position to the Briton, just before a DRS zone, to try to double him in stride.
"The two pilots found incredible parades, with a way of doing things which shows that beyond the extraordinary pilots that they are, they have a perfect knowledge of the regulations and of the lines not to be overtaken", estimates Franck Montagny.
Strict rules, but with more or less vague applications, as when Michael Masi, the race director, played the carpet seller by negotiating a deal directly with the teams. He proposed to RedBull to give back the place to Hamilton, after a first reduction by Verstappen on number 44. In the event of refusal, the incident would be mounted at the race marshals for a possible penalty. “It wasn't F1, it was rental karting. If you want a Hollywood show, it was amazing. But is this F1? I don't know, ”Jacques Villeneuve judged harshly on motorsports.fr.
A practice visible to all, therefore transparent, unlike other older ones, which surprised.
But that betrays a desire to let the show happen, rather than escalate the incident to the stewards, who would have brought down the sanctions.
Verstappen was also inflicted two penalties of 5 seconds after the finish, ultimately of no consequence given his lead over Ocon, 3rd.
“I'm driving hard and shouldn't have been penalized for anything in Jeddah.
Others do the exact same thing, but don't even get a warning.
I get a penalty.
It's not fair, ”Verstappen complained a few hours before the end of the season, as we put pressure on the referee before the weekend match.
"A collision would be beneficial for Verstappen"
With the advantage in the number of Grand Prix won this season, 9 to 8 for Hamilton, Verstappen would be titled in the event of the abandonment of the two leaders of the championship. Considering the numerous clashes between the two pilots (Silverstone, Monza, Interlagos), such an outcome is not impossible. As in the last GP of the 1994 season, when, after losing control of his Benetton, the deceitful Michael Schumacher had deliberately hit Damon Hill's Williams. The German, who finished in the portection tires, had succeeded: he was titled world champion for one point ahead of Damon Hill, forced to retire for a broken suspension.
“A collision would be beneficial for Verstappen. After Hamilton has already taken him offshore, recalls Franck Montagny. Both are at the same level, one is younger, more aggressive, is less camouflaged, the other is smarter. But the advantage is clearly for Verstappen in the event of a tie ”. And therefore of double abandonment. And to listen to Helmut Marko, responsible for pilots at Redbull, this gloomy prospect does not frighten the Dutchman. "There is no reason for Max to be less aggressive on the track," he warned after the Saudi Arabian GP.
The title could therefore simply be played after the checkered flag, with the marshals in the event of a new incident.
" I hope not.
The Abu Dhabi circuit is still safer for cars and less prone to clashes.
Even if it would not surprise me that it ended with a story of penalty ”, engages Franck Montagny.
Specific notes for this Grand Prix
“I think everyone here in the race is coming to win.
I would like to believe that everyone wants to do it the right way, so I don't let that get into my mind, ”preferred to temper the phlegmatic Lewis Hamilton, from the height of his experience.
But reading the specific notes - a sort of general instructions and reminder of the rules - written by race director Michael Masi for this last Grand Prix, this fear of seeing the season end too manly is on everyone's mind.
“The Stewards may also decide to impose the following penalties: suspension for one or more competitions, withdrawal of points for the championship.
We hope it won't be necessary.
But it is one of the tools available.
I hope that the championship will not be decided with the marshals, but with the two guys on the track.
It depends on them and no one else ”.
“There is insane pressure among the marshals, in the paddock, rebounds Montagny.
It's a phew championship.
After 22 races, we start again from zero.
The teams are spending millions of euros, a lot of things are taken into account, and everything will be decided in the last race.
Or with the commissioners ”.
A pressure that may not fall until late in the night in Abu Dhabi.
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Formula 1: Hamilton returns to Verstappen after a crazy GP
Max Verstappen
Lewis hamilton
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Grand prize
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Abu Dhabi
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