Toto Wolff makes huge gesture towards Christian Horner ahead of the Abu Dhabi finale

Lewis Hamilton goes undercover to inspire school children

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff put his war of words with Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner to one side during Friday’s FIA press conference as he extended his hand to him and declared “may the best man win” ahead of the tense season finale in Abu Dhabi.

Wolff and Horner have had a prickly relationship this season, spending much of the year at each other’s throats as their drivers Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton have fought it out on track.

Now, in another sensational twist to the championship, the two title protagonists are level on points heading into Sunday’s race at Yas Marina circuit.

When asked what they have to say to each other at this point of the season, Toto graciously extended his hand to Horner and said: “Good luck. May the best man and the best team win,” as Horner accepted the gesture.

The Briton added: “Exactly that. It’s been an intense competition.

JUST IN:
Christian Horner aims cheeky dig at Abu Dhabi circuit changes with Mer

“It’s been intense between the two of us, it’ll be intense next year and the year after but we’ve got two great teams, we’re separated by about 15 miles back in the UK and I think the commitment that has gone in has been phenomenal.

“I can’t speak for Toto’s team, but I know our team has just been outstanding this year through the whole pandemic, through all the challenges, the triple headers, everything that we’ve had thrown at us, I think has been has been outstanding, so yeah, if he [Hamilton] slowed down a bit, it would certainly help.”

Hamilton is on the back of a hat-trick of wins thanks to a strong resurgence in the championship to leave the pair equal on points for the first time in F1 for 47 years.

But Wolff added they can not be complacent at this point in the season, despite a 48-point lead in the Constructors’ Championship.

DON’T MISS:
Max Verstappen agrees with Lewis Hamilton on showdown talks
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen react to championship impact
FIA’s blunt message to Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen

“Now statistically, that’s that’s a very strong advantage that we have, but you can see how quickly it goes,” added Wolff.

“We were just five points ahead, and then Sergio Perez was involved in that crash and then scored no points and suddenly that means it swings massively and so there still can be events on Sunday, where that could swing in the other direction.

“I just hope we were all in for this fight, the four drivers, and that we can maintain the gap or even increase it because that would mean maybe that if we started to lose that we’ve won the championship.”

The season finale is free to air on Channel 4 on Sunday alongside the usual home of Sky Sports F1, with the normal coverage on BBC 5 Live at 1pm GMT in the UK where either Hamilton or Verstappen will be crowned champion.

Source: Read Full Article