You can hardly get more of a showdown! When the Formula 1 elite take the honors at the season finale of the premier motorsport class in Abu Dhabi from Friday, three drivers will still be reaching for the crown: World Championship leader Lando Norris (408 points), Max Verstappen (396) and Oscar Piastri (392). Experienced Nico Hülkenberg has now revealed who his sympathies lie with.
There is no question that Nico Hülkenberg would prefer to be at the top of the podium himself at the Formula 1 World Championship showdown in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. If no miracles happen, the German in Kick Sauber will at least give way to the top stars Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri who are fighting for the title.
If Hülkenberg has his way, Verstappen will be ahead at the end of the season.
“Of course” he has sympathy for the four-time world champion from the Netherlands, explained Hülkenberg on the sidelines of the event in Abu Dhabi. Both have been friends for years.
Verstappen “can only win”
The trend also speaks in Verstappen’s favor: the 28-year-old had “such a good run compared to the McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, he made absolutely no mistakes,” emphasized Hülkenberg about the Red Bull star, who was more than 100 points behind the World Cup leader in the summer – now there are still 12. “That’s still quite a lot, but we know that crazy things happen in Formula 1. Max knows how to fight for titles, pressure is no problem for him and he has nothing to lose, he can only win.”
Statistically speaking, Norris still has the best chance of winning the title. The Brit is the only one who can race to the title on his own; a podium place would be enough.
Everything speaks for a spectacular finale, which also arouses Hülkenberg’s interest: “I’ll watch it as far as it’s possible from my position,” he said with a wink: “There are big screens along the track. It’s good for the sport that the title fight is still open.”