Hamilton: 'If Max truly did lock up, we might be in the better position'

The all-deciding race in Abu Dhabi promises to be exciting. Red Bull Racing and Mercedes will both start on different tyres, so it remains to be seen which team will make the best strategic choices. Lewis Hamilton is unsure what to make of Red Bull's choice.

"I'm always kind of skeptical with everything, so it'll be interesting when we go back and look at the information and onboard laps," Hamilton said during the press conference at the FIA.

Max Verstappen was doing well on mediums, but he locked his front tire at the first corner, forcing the Dutchman to pit. In the end, the team opted to set a time in Q2 of qualifying on the soft tyre anyway. Hamilton isn't sure how it will work out.

Who has the better strategy?

"It's very rare that people lock-up in Turn 1 but if he truly did lock-up in Turn 1 then maybe whether or not we'll be in the better position in terms of that tire or maybe they know something we don't and that Soft tire was their plan all the time," the Briton continued.

"We struggled, I think, a little bit more on the soft tyre for long runs." So, according to the seven-time World Champion, Mercedes chose the right tyre. On Sunday, it will become clear how long Verstappen can manage his soft tyres at the start of the race.