F1 press conference host says Lewis Hamilton 'couldn't look at' Max Verstappen before title decider

Formula 1 press conference host Tom Clarkson has revealed that Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen ‘couldn’t look at each other’ before their title decider. 

Back in 2021, the world championship fight went down to the wire, with Hamilton and Verstappen heading into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix level on points.

Hamilton led for the majority of the race, but Verstappen ended up winning his maiden title under extremely controversial circumstances.

While following the safety car, race director Michael Masi allowed only the lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to unlap themselves.

Which in turn, gave Verstappen a free run at overtaking Hamilton with much fresher tyres.

Tom Clarkson on the ‘tension’ between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen before 2021 title decider

Speaking recently on The Howie Games podcast, F1’s press conference host, Tom Clarkson, claimed that Hamilton and Verstappen wouldn’t look at each other on media day before the title decider.

He explained that both drivers were just looking straight ahead during the press conference, and there was an air of tension in the room.

Clarkson said: “Abu Dhabi 2021, so this was still in the COVID era, the drivers, I had to do all 20 drivers, they came in two by two, kind of Noah’s Ark, in they come. 

“The last two to come into the room, it’s the Thursday before the season deciding, title deciding Grand Prix, Max, Lewis, we put the driver’s championship trophy between them.

“You could feel the tension. It’s really interesting, isn’t it? This turned out to be Max’s first world championship, but the serial winners are the real competitors, and Lewis Hamilton is the ultimate competitor, very closely followed by Max Verstappen.”