Emma Raducanu snubs Lewis Hamilton as tennis star set to attend Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

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Emma Raducanu is set to be present at Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen battle for the world title. However, Hamilton isn’t the 19-year-old tennis superstar’s favourite Formula 1 driver despite their British allegiance.

Hamilton and Verstappen will face off the final time this season on Sunday, with the Drivers’ Championship hanging in the balance.

Both drivers are on 369.5 points, with Hamilton winning the last three races to pile pressure on Verstappen in Abu Dhabi.

The Mercedes star is looking for a record-breaking eighth world title, which would see him surpass Michael Schumacher’s tally of seven.

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Appearing on Soccer AM, Natalie Pinkham revealed that mainstream rapper Stormzy was just one of the numerous big-name guests expected at the Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday.

Another is Raducanu, who surprisingly won’t be rooting for her fellow Brit Lewis Hamilton. Why? Because her favourite driver represents McLaren.

“We’ve got some big names coming tomorrow,” Pinkham told Sky Sports on Saturday morning.

“We’ve got Emma Raducanu, who’s coming in. Apparently, her favourite driver is Daniel Ricciardo. She’s a big F1 fan.”

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Raducanu is coming off an award-laden 2021 season, her debut year on the WTA Tour. The teenage sensation won the hearts of British fans when she burst onto the scene at Wimbledon and reached the fourth round.

She then shocked the tennis world by winning the US Open as a qualifier, not dropping a single set in the process, which cannoned her into the world’s top 20 as the new British number one.

In the aftermath, Raducanu has won a BT Sport award, two SJA British Sports Awards and was named WTA Newcomer of the Year this week.

And as she prepares for his first full year on the WTA circuit, Raducanu will be present at the climax of one of F1’s greatest title fights.

Standing alongside Pinkham on Soccer AM, Nico Rosberg emphasised the anticipation building ahead of what could be an explosive finale in Hamilton and Verstappen’s title showdown.

He said: “The tension is building up. Max Verstappen has been so aggressive in the last couple of races, especially in the last race, really lunging on Lewis all the time, almost taking him out.

“We expect that to continue here this weekend, so that’s why for Lewis, it’s such a tough situation.

“He needs to stay out of the way but win the race or finish ahead of Verstappen to win the championship. The intensity is unbelievable.”

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