I WON’T LET MAX RUN AWAY WITH IT NEXT SEASON

Now Hamilton believes that Verstappen’s march to the title is a turn off for fans and vows to make it a fight to the finish next year

- SIMON CASS

FORMULA ONE IS BACK

LEWIS HAMILTON is determined to take the fight to Max Verstappen next season because he fears the Dutchman’s cruise to this year’s world title is a turn-off for fans. 

Verstappen will have his first shot at sealing back-to-back titles at Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix.

The Red Bull driver, who turns 25 today, will be crowned champion if he wins under the lights of the Marina Bay circuit and sets the fastest lap, and team-mate Sergio Perez and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc both finish lower than fourth and eighth respectively.

It is a far cry from the previous campaign where a nerve-shredding battle went down to the final race in Abu Dhabi, the prize going to Verstappen after he overtook Hamilton on the last lap in controversial circumstances to deny the Brit a record eighth crown.