P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell has predicted Max Verstappen will back Lando Norris into the chasing pack during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as he looks to overturn his 12-point deficit to the McLaren driver.
George Russell predicts that Max Verstappen might intentionally slow down the pack during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix if he leads at the beginning of the race. Verstappen, starting from pole position, needs to finish ahead of championship leader Lando Norris to secure his fifth title. Russell speculates that Verstappen could try to disrupt Norris by controlling the pace and bunching up the cars behind him, similar to tactics used in past seasons.
Russell emphasized that Verstappen doesn’t need to drive recklessly to achieve this strategy, pointing out the subtleties of managing the race pace. He believes that on certain tracks, such as street circuits like Singapore, it’s common to control the gap and manipulate the field without taking unnecessary risks.
The mind games between the drivers had already started in qualifying, with Russell hoping to benefit from following behind Verstappen for a potential tow. He hinted at Red Bull to consider the tactic as part of their strategy. Ultimately, the championship battle in Abu Dhabi promises to be intense, with both drivers and teams strategizing to gain any advantage possible in the quest for victory.
