As if they needed a reminder.
The Formula 1 world championship trophy, the one that can only be awarded at the FIA prize-giving gala (here you can find the reason for that), was there, placed between them. Verstappen and Hamilton stood side by side for the final press conference ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix .
And of course, the press conference started late.
The two rivals took different positions when host Tom Clarkson began his opening questions. Verstappen leaned back, relaxed and with his arms more open, while Hamilton was more upright and serene, with his hands clasped.
Both started with praise for their respective teams. Verstappen highlighted Red Bull Racing’s progress compared to the previous year, when the Dutchman joked about taking the ‘third-placed’ chair from the FIA press conference after sitting in it 12 times during the season. In 2021, he only did it six times.
“After last year, I didn’t have much hope that we would be sitting here at the end of the season fighting for the title,” he admitted. “But I think from the beginning we were very competitive and achieved good results, with a bit of bad luck too, but overall we can be very proud of the effort of the whole team.”
Just before they had to answer, in a question for both, if winning the 2021 championship would be the most important moment of their respective careers: Hamilton would reach uncharted territory ahead of Michael Schumacher and Verstappen is in search of a first world crown ( and his first overall single-seater title). The Mercedes driver highlighted his previous experience in races where titles are decided.
“I think it’s been an incredible group effort from everyone in the factory and on the track,” continued Hamilton. “No one has ever done eight before, so I’m grateful. And I remember what it’s like to go for your first World Cup as well, so I’ve had those experiences and the rollercoasters of emotions that you go through.”
Before the F1 world knew that Hamilton doesn’t have access to free ice cream, but Verstappen does, courtesy of his father’s stepbrother’s shop (in response to a question from a young F1 fan, Emily ) they both revealed that they had spent some time relaxing in Dubai after the Jeddah run.
Lewis Hamilton, who also answered Emily’s question about what it was like to be famous (he said “it’s not really an amazing thing”) revealed that he had been “training” and focusing “on recovery” as well as learning “how to skydive in a tandem” in a local skydiving tunnel. Verstappen had had “some meals with friends, family” and also celebrated his girlfriend’s birthday. “You have to do those kinds of activities because Formula 1 is one thing, but you also don’t have to forget that there are also very important things in life.”
When Clarkson opened media Q&A – the press conference is still being held virtually on Zoom due to F1’s current COVID-19 restrictions – views changed. As the journalists began to ask their questions, Verstappen became more closed, with one leg crossed, while Hamilton leaned back, now more open, perhaps knowing that he had the air in his favor in the British F1 environment.
Both insisted that they refused, at least publicly, to tolerate any speculation that the title was going to be decided in an accident.
“As a driver, you don’t think about those things,” Verstappen said. “You just get to a weekend where you want to do the best you can as a team and of course you try to win the race, but obviously the media starts saying those things and I really don’t have much more to say about that. here trying to do the best I can and trying to be as prepared as possible and of course obviously trying to win this weekend.”
Said Hamilton: “Honestly, I don’t spend any energy on it. I’m here to do the best job I can with this amazing team. And at the beginning of the year we never thought we’d be neck-and-neck in this last race. We had an amazing comeback collectively. “As a team and we’ve been in a great position these past few races. We will continue to go forward with the same focus and not waste energy on things that are out of our control.”
After Hamilton insisted that this end of 2021 “is like another championship” (he has been involved in five decisive races for the title -2007, 2008, 2010, 2014 and 2016-), both were asked to comment on the fact that F1 race director Michael Masi reminded everyone of sections of the FIA International Sporting Code in his notes ahead of the Abu Dhabi GP. The featured articles were a specific reminder that any unsportsmanlike conduct this weekend could result in a disqualification from the Worlds .
“First of all, I think it has happened in the past and I am sure the stewards have not taken the precautions that are available to them this time,” Hamilton said. “So I think it’s only fair that they do. Hopefully they don’t need to be used and we have a great race and move on. But I don’t think I have a particular opinion on that, I’m here to do my job and I don’t want to see the stewards anymore. than they want to see me”.
Max Verstappen added: “I know what is written in the sporting code, so nobody really needs to be reminded. I think they can do it every race weekend, there is nothing new for this weekend.”
As the news conference broadcast ended, the camera caught Hamilton hurriedly touching his right knee as Clarkson reopened questions to reporters waiting on the video call. In all, 29 had logged on, one of the largest virtual meetings of the season, and 11 had asked to ask a question before proceedings began. It was clear that there would not be time to ask all the questions.
Hamilton seemed visibly more cautious when answering a question from a Daily Mail reporter, perhaps unsurprisingly, given that publication’s history of unflattering articles about him (or any public figure).
But his response to the question of whether he really believed Verstappen was “crazy”, as he had said during a radio message as they battled for victory at last weekend’s Saudi GP, was jovial.
“We’re all a little crazy to be able to do what we do,” Hamilton snapped. “And for taking the risks that we do.”
Responding to a question about concerns that the title could be decided in a controversial stewards decision, Verstappen said “already all year, there have been some things that were maybe a bit controversial”, adding: “We want to win with clarity. It should be about that, not about controversial decisions.”
Hamilton once again insisted that he will expend “no energy” on it, repeating that argument to a direct question: “Could you say 100% with your heart in your hand that you trust the man you’re competing with to do the right thing?” on Sunday?”. Before that, he had explained the item of clothing he had worn in the paddock in the morning, when he passed journalists from our sister website Autosport.com in a queue formed to take the first COVID tests of the event. The message on his back, “fuck off” was “just a coincidence”.
He added: “I mean, I didn’t make that garment myself. So literally until I put it on I didn’t see the message on the back.”
In the early hours of the day, in a Zoom video call that Red Bull had organized before the FIA press conferences for Verstappen and Sergio Pérez, the former had suggested that he had been penalized in Jeddah for something that two other drivers had also done. Asked which incidents he had been referring to, Verstappen said: “I don’t really understand, of course, why other incidents are judged differently.”
“It was between the two Ferrari drivers [where Charles Leclerc skipped Turn 2 as Verstappen had done on the second restart during his battle with Carlos Sainz]. And possibly between George [Russell] and [Lance] Stroll [where Stroll skipped off the track and passed the Williams driver on the first lap of the Jeddah race, but the FIA didn’t look into it] I think. Clearly there were different opinions on that.”
Autosport reminded Hamilton of an incident just after Verstappen let him pass for the last time in the Jeddah race, where the seven-time champion also took the Dutchman off the track at the last corner. Masi had said he was “borderline black/white flag for unsportsmanlike conduct” when explaining it to Mercedes sporting director Ron Meadows .
Our sister website wanted to ask Hamilton at the press conference after the Saudi Arabian GP, but there was no time because both rivals had to testify before the stewards and the conference was shorter than usual.
“Yeah, it seems a bit strange to me,” Hamilton said when asked by Autosport to explain his perspective on that somewhat fair maneuver on his part. “Because, first of all, I can use the whole track. Obviously I passed Max and I was completely close, so it wasn’t like I was next to him and then I ran him off the track. And I wanted to make sure I got the best possible start.” .
Verstappen then repeated his idea: “For me there are different rules compared to other drivers”, with both saying there was no need for them to sit down and discuss anything before next Sunday.
The last question in the time allowed concerned how each rival felt about broadcasting Sunday’s race free-to-air in their home countries: Ziggosport in the Netherlands, where that channel has an exclusive deal to give F1, as does Sky F1 and Channel 4 in the UK.
“I grew up in an era where F1 was free to watch,” said Hamilton. “And remember being able to turn on the telly and watch it many years ago. I know that’s how the world has changed, obviously, with pay TV. But I think it’s amazing [that the final race is broadcast for free in the Netherlands and the UK.” United].
“Particularly in a time that we live in now, where people have been so affected by COVID. People lost jobs, businesses… and so I think that’s great. I think that’s a great gift right now.” of the year that people can watch a sport and not have to worry about how they’re going to watch it.
Verstappen said: “Yes, the same for me. Of course. It’s great that people can see it. And I think also for us it’s even more special because it’s the first time that a Dutch driver has a chance to win a championship. With luck, a lot of people will turn on the TV”.
And with that, the press conference ended.
Autosport headed to the top of the steps overlooking the paddock at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit, where both drivers would be heading after the press conference, to the left below us. Rows of photographers gathered there: would there be any interaction outside the press room studio?
Verstappen had already left and was talking to television media when we arrived. Hamilton, in a Mercedes jersey and not in his curious arrival attire, had waited. He left with a press officer from Mercedes and then went to conduct his individual television interviews. All of that served to highlight just how much interest there is in this weekend’s outcome. Even how mundane the analysis being done has.
So… what did we learn from Verstappen and Hamilton’s head-to-head press conference?
There really isn’t much we didn’t know, although it was important to ask Hamilton for his perspective on the maneuver that almost got him a black and white flag in Jeddah, as many see it as proof that he too crossed the limits in that race.
We noticed that not once did the rivals for the title look at each other. The tension was cut with a knife but, all the same, they were respectful and chose their words carefully.
That was not surprising. At this pivotal moment, neither wants to give the other ammunition they could use to pressure their rival to find that extra tenth in qualifying or an inch in battle on Sunday.
