F1 title rivals Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have reacted to the FIA's stern warning ahead of this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. With the pair level on points after a controversial weekend in Saudi Arabia, which featured a collision and two time penalties for Verstappen, the governing body has stepped in to emphasise some ground rules. In his pre-event notes, FIA Race Director Michael Masi took the opportunity to point out several elements of the FIA's International Sporting Code , amid fears that the battle could end in contentious circumstances.
"Hopefully they won't need to be used"
Hamilton and Verstappen were both asked for their thoughts on the warning ahead of the race weekend. "It's happened in the past. I'm sure the stewards have taken the precautions they have this time around. I think that's fair that they do it," Hamilton told accredited media, including RacingNews365.com . "Hopefully they won't need to be used and we have a great race and move forward, but I don't really particularly have an opinion about it. "I'm here to do my job and I don't want to see the stewards any more than they want to see me!" Verstappen then jumped in: "I mean, I know what's in the Sporting Code, so I think nobody needs to be really reminded of that. "I think they can put it in every single race weekend. There's nothing newly added for this weekend."
Fears of a title-deciding collision
The pair were also asked about a potential title-deciding clash and, if one occurred, whether it would take anything away from winning the title. "I think as a driver, you don't think about these things," said Verstappen. "You go to a weekend where you just want to do the best you can as a team, and of course you try to win the race, but naturally the media starts to say these things. "I don't really have a lot more to comment on that. I think I arrive here just trying to do the best I can, trying to be the best prepared and, of course, naturally, trying to win." Hamilton added: "There's not really much more to add. I think I can't control those things around me. All I can do is control what I do in terms of preparation and how I conduct myself."
Most read
