Speaking as they prepared for this weekend’s Turkish Grand Prix, the drivers shrugged off suggestions they were feeling the intensity of a competition that has ebbed and flowed across 15 rounds and remains too close to call. Hamilton is 36 and in his 15th season in F1, and the Mercedes driver said his experience helped him to stay focused. “It’s the understanding what will be will be, all you can do is prepare the best way you can,” he said. I just don’t worry about ‘what if?’ That’s up ahead, I just try and prepare for now. Hamilton leads Verstappen by two points after the Dutch driver made a superb recovery for Red Bull at the last round in Russia, finishing second after starting at the back of the grid because of a penalty for fitting a new engine.

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