The tension has reached fever pitch in Abu Dhabi as one of closest and most fiercely-contested world championships in Formula 1 history finally comes to a head. After 21 out of 22 grands prix, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton are dead-even on points with just Sunday’s 2021 finale on the modified Yas Marina circuit to go. “As a driver, you don’t think about a collision,” said the Red Bull driver. Verstappen, though, said the FIA “didn’t have to emphasise” the point officially, just as Masi admits that there is no way he can actually prevent the worst from happening. “But yes, Max could be deducted points, as could any driver or team.

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