Max Verstappen must delve into his sizeable bag of tricks if he is to avoid missing out on more Formula 1 glory today. The Dutchman starts on pole but knows that winning the race alone will not be enough, because Lando Norris starts next to him on the front row and the Brit cannot end the day on the podium if Verstappen is to have any chance of five titles in a row.
So although Verstappen is used to speeding off into the distance when starting on pole, a different tactic may be called for this time. Might he try to replicate Lewis Hamilton‘s innovative but ultimately failed tactic of backing up his rival into the pack, as the Brit tried in 2016 with Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg? Naturally, the four-time champion was giving nothing away in terms of his playbook.
But George Russell expects some shenanigans and said: “I don’t expect Max to drive into the sunset.” And the man himself declared he will leave everything on the table in his quest to join Michael Schumacher as the only drivers ever to be crowned champion in five successive seasons.
Verstappen said: “I’ll go all-out. I have nothing to lose. Of course, I’m going to try to win the race. I’ll defend and if I need to attack then I’ll attack, because what’s the worst that can happen? You’re either second or third, or you win. That would be fantastic, but I need help and luck to take the championship.”
For Norris, slipping past Verstappen on the opening lap and speeding off into the horizon, where he can stay out of danger, would be the ideal scenario. Though the Brit admitted McLaren would need to pull off a magic trick of their own to deliver a car with the pace to do that.
He said: “We just weren’t quick enough. I was quite happy with my lap, it felt very strong, but we just didn’t have enough pace in the car. I’m hoping that just magically appears tomorrow and we can be a bit quicker, otherwise… they are too quick.”
Regarding his own approach, he added: “I know what I have to do, but it’s never as simple as just staying there. Everyone has their own agenda, so all I can do is just focus on my own stuff, prepare as best as I can and wait to see what happens.”
Starting third, the title race outsider Oscar Piastri is as uncertain as his rivals. He was spun around by Verstappen at the first corner on this track last December and smirked at the thought of the Dutchman clashing with the other McLaren ahead of him this time.
Could his plan involve lying in wait to see if his rivals clash? “It could do!” the Aussie teased. Piastri must move forward as third won’t be enough for him to fully close the 16-point deficit he has to Norris. He defiantly added: “Until either Max or Lando cross the line ahead of me, I’m still in the running.”
The one certainty ahead of the decider in the desert is that a beautiful story will be told no matter which way it goes. Either Norris or Piastri wins the crown and achieve the dream they both had as young children driving go-karts for the first time.
Or Verstappen completes one of the all-time great comebacks and seals his place among the pantheon of F1 legends, alongside Schumacher, Hamilton and Juan Manuel Fangio as the only drivers with five or more titles in history.
Just as long as the champion isn’t chosen in the race control room, as it was when Abu Dhabi last hosted a title-decider four years ago.