"If Verstappen does that, it would leave a stain on his career"

Olav Mol was already scathing about the British press, who according to him are busy 'framing' Max Verstappen. That this idea is not out of thin air is shown by the broadcast of Sky Sports around the press conference of Lewis Hamilton and Verstappen, in which was talked all day about the scenario in which Verstappen would drive Hamilton off the track.

The gentlemen of Sky emphasise that they want nothing more than a clean race in Abu Dhabi, but then fill the broadcast with the suggestion that Verstappen might do the unforgivable. Speculation abounds as to how and why the Dutchman might go about his desperate action and what the consequences might be.

Sky keeps Verstappen under magnifying glass

Reporter Ted Kravitz suggests: "Mercedes fear that Max will cause a crash with Lewis in order to win the title." It's a story that's doing the rounds frequently at the moment. The other way around, the gentlemen don't see it happening, after all Verstappen will win the title if both rivals fail to reach the finish line.

After discussing the scenario at length, Kravitz still expresses some confidence in the Dutchman. "I don't think he will do it, because that would leave a stain on his career. Just like the incident between Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill in 1994," Kravitz concludes.

Mercedes is brimming with confidence ahead of the final race. The team might even consider an engine change again, depending on the pace the team sees from Verstappen on Friday. "Then they might switch to a brand new 'significant step' power unit, to be able to drive away in qualifying and the race," Kravitz concludes.