Christian Horner has defended Max Verstappen strongly, insisting that Lewis Hamilton will be his opponent in the Abu Dhabi title decider.
Both were involved in numerous incidents during the season. Verstappen and his rivalry reached new levels in Saudi Arabia, when Verstappen received two separate penalties for time, including one for braking on the Mercedes driver.
Verstappen’s racing conduct has come increasingly under fire after robust defences of his lead in recent races and there are fears he could ram Hamilton – who is level on points with the Dutchman – off the road in order to win his maiden championship.

Max Verstappen is being criticized for the way he drove in races recently

Verstappen was discovered to have brake checked Hamilton and caused their collision in Saudi Arabia

It is possible that he might try to take Hamilton off-road in his bid to win the first title.
After their collision in Saudi Arabia, eventual race-winner Hamilton described second-placed Verstappen as ‘f****** crazy’.
Horner however insists that Verstappen, a fair-racer, will be fighting for the Yas Marina circuit title on Sunday.
Red Bull principal and Red Bull Team Principal, said that “He’s definitely not crazy,” to The Times.
Max would like to win this track championship. It’s as simple as that. He’s a hard racer but a fair racer, and I expect no different this weekend. Nobody wants to win this championship in a gravel trap or in a stewards’ inquiry.’
He added: ‘To finish first, first you’ve got to finish. That’s been our mantra throughout this season.
‘Remember, it wasn’t Max who crashed into Lewis at Silverstone. Lewis was found guilty by the stewards of hitting Max.
‘They’ve both had their moments this year. Monza proved to be the opposite. They’ve been hard races.
‘They’ve gone wheel to wheel. However, they’ve gone wheel to wheel.

Hamilton and Verstappen came to contact for the first times at the British Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver sent the Dutchman through the barriers.

Verstappen’s Red Bull was crowned the winner of Hamilton’s Mercedes at Grand Prix in Italy

Verstappen was also criticized for making Lewis Hamilton miss the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Horner’s claim comes despite Max’s father Jos declaring that Max “will do everything” to win the Abu Dhabi Cup.
The British Grand Prix was an interesting race. It started with a fairly clean title fight, but it reached its boiling point when Hamilton’s front left wheel struck Verstappen’s right rear while he tried a move. Verstappen spun into the barrier and Verstappen could continue.
At the Italian Grand Prix Verstappen attempted to keep his lines around Hamilton’s outside until the first chicane, which was launched high above a kerb on top of the Mercedes, sent them both into retirement.
Verstappen was also criticised after he drove in Brazil and forced Hamilton to leave the track while the Mercedes driver tried to turn around outside Turn 4. Both men were then thrown off the track.
Verstappen twice ran deep with Hamilton in Saudi Arabia at Turn 1 and was requested to hand the position back. Verstappen also received one five second penalty for being ahead off track.
Verstappen, who was on lap 37 of the race’s most controversial incident, was given the order to give Hamilton first place. He slowed down and brake-tested his opponent, cutting the Red Bull’s rear, leaving Hamilton’s front wings with severe damage.

Christian Horner asserts that Verstappen will seek to win Abu Dhabi the title fairly

This is despite Jos (right), Max’s declaration that he will do everything he can win.
Horner believes that there was gamesmanship between the drivers involved in the collision. He stated Hamilton did not want to pass Verstappen at the DRS line because he wanted the Dutchman to have the advantage on the long straight.
He explained that Max clearly had lifted off, and was now going through the gears. [a speed] slower than the slowest corner of the circuit, yet Lewis didn’t want to overtake, because he didn’t want to be the first to cross the DRS line.
“So Max was trying desperately to overtake Max. Max had been told by either the race director or the stewards to allow him to pass and by so did the team.
Red Bull and Verstappen had the better package throughout the season, but bad luck and Mercedes’ recent engine boost have resulted in them being tied on points heading into the final race.

Horner thinks Verstappen, Red Bull’s four-time champion Sebastian Vettel is the greatest Red Bull driver.
Hamilton’s knowledge and Mercedes seem to now have the pace advantage so they are favorites going into the weekend.
Hamilton will finish second, but Verstappen will win Red Bull’s first title since Sebastian Vettel 2013.
Horner feels Verstappen has a superior driver to the German four-time champion. However, he insists Red Bull provided Vettel with better machinery.
He is also convinced that, despite Hamilton’s heritage in the sport Hamilton would be defeated by Verstappen in equal machinery.
‘You can’t deny anything Lewis has achieved, Horner said. ‘He’s one of the absolute greats and statistically the most successful in history.
“But, Max and Lewis are in there.” [Mercedes]car and who I think would win. Lewis could be in the car with me and it would not matter who wins.

F1’s history is littered with title rivals, including Alain Prost (1989) and Ayrton Senna (1996).