Lewis Hamilton will take on Max Verstappen in the final Grand Prix of the Formula One calendar on Sunday in a bid to win his eighth Drivers’ Championship, breaking the record of seven he currently shares with Michael Schumacher. And it’s been suggested that he could even take another engine change in a bid to outsmart Red Bull this weekend.
Verstappen was 19 points ahead in the battle for the title with just four races to go following his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix.
Yet three victories in a row for Hamilton – including a fastest lap in Saudi Arabia last time out – has seen the pair go head-to-head in the last race level on points.
It is the first time a scenario such as this has occurred since 1974, when Emerson Fittipaldi took all the honours in the last race of the season.
And Sky Sports pundit Ted Kravitz has suggested that Mercedes could drop a new power unit into Hamilton’s car to give him the edge come Sunday.
“What do Mercedes fear most? Max Verstappen taking out Lewis Hamilton and winning the championship that way,” said Ted Kravitz on Sky Sports.
“I don’t really see there are any other things they have to fear.
“They have the package that seems to be quickest at the moment, they have done the hat-trick in the last three races and they always have the option of putting a new power unit in.
“[An engine change] is possible because then what do Red Bull fear most? A Mercedes the like of which Lewis Hamilton had in Brazil, which was nigh-on unbeatable.
Boss Toto Wolff will be set on claiming the title that he has won every year since his arrival at Mercedes.
Verstappen will be looking to win his first title at the age of just 24.
And if he does, he will become the third-youngest driver to ever win the accolade behind Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.
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