Jos Verstappen: I don't think Max will ram Hamilton in final grand prix
Thursday, 9 December 2021
Verstappen would win the Championship if no points are scored.
Max Verstappen's father does not believe his son will resort to ramming title rival Lewis Hamilton off the road in the final race of the Formula 1® season in order to win the championship.
Hamilton won an extraordinary Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday to move level on points with Max Verstappen in the F1® drivers' championship.
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Heading into the final Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi next Sunday, Verstappen has the edge on races won (9-8) and so will clinch his first-ever title if Hamilton does not better his result.
If neither driver finished in the points – or finished the race – that would also seal Verstappen's triumph.
Asked by the Daily Mail whether his son is likely to sacrifice his own race to take out Hamilton, Verstappen's father and former F1® driver Jos said: "I don't think that will happen.
"Max absolutely wants to win. He will definitely go for it. He will clearly try to beat him. He will do everything to get the win, that's for sure. It will be exciting."
Ahead of the Saudi Arabian GP, Jos had discussed Max's relationship with Hamilton – as well as his own.
"I never speak to Lewis," the 49-year-old told the Daily Mail. "He doesn't need to speak to me. I'm nothing to him. I respect him as a driver, but the rest... nothing.
"Max and Lewis only speak on the podium, very little. When I see Max with other drivers, I think they get on very well. But with Lewis, nothing. Lewis is in his own world."
Verstappen received a pair of penalties in Jeddah, the second for causing a collision with Hamilton when he braked suddenly.
Hamilton was critical of Verstappen when asked if he thought his rival drove dangerously, saying: "I definitely feel that there were scenarios where that was the case.
"This is not the first time that I've had to avoid a collision, that's how I felt at the moment, but you know sometimes you say things in the heat of the moment and you go back and re-watch things and then you maybe feel differently. But in the moment, that's how it felt.
"I really just tried to recompose myself and chase down and keep fighting."
