THE dramatic Formula One grand finale was given celebrity status in Abu Dhabi.
As race rivals Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen battle it out in a winner-take-all decider, high-profile names were in attendance to watch on.
Rapper Stormzy, actress Eva Longoria, Olympic legend Usain Bolt and cricketer Chris Gayle were all pictured.
Even Hollywood’s Gerard Butler was in town to see if Britain’s Hamilton could overtake Michael Schumacher to a record eight F1 championships.
But Red Bull’s Verstappen struck a hammer blow by snatching pole position in the Abu Dhabi desert.
The Dutchman, 24, vowed to continue driving aggressively, says he makes the reigning champ ‘nervous’ and claims he is the better driver.
Verstappen said: “I make him nervous if he sees me in his mirrors. He’s a different driver to me, less aggressive.”
And when quizzed if Hamilton was afraid of him, Verstappen replied: “He will never admit that. At least I’m not afraid of him!
“He doesn’t know how to race like I do. I can’t blame him for that either, because he was never able to learn that like I did from my father.”
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Verstappen’s dad Jos is a former F1 driver, who made 106 Grand Prix starts between 1994 and 2003, while Hamilton’s dad Anthony took on multiple jobs to pay for his son’s karting career.
The two warring drivers are level on points and will both be on the front row of the Yas Marina Circuit grid today.
But while Verstappen’s car is on soft tyres, Hamilton’s Mercedes will wear medium rubber.
Hamilton, 36, who was booed by Dutch fans in parc ferme, hailed Verstappen’s qualifying performance, saying: “It was a fantastic lap from him.”
