{"id":299041,"date":"2023-11-28T07:54:12","date_gmt":"2023-11-28T07:54:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usasportsradar.com\/?p=299041"},"modified":"2023-11-28T07:54:12","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T07:54:12","slug":"max-verstappen-breaches-agreement-as-worrying-lewis-hamilton-sign-spotted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usasportsradar.com\/racing\/f1\/max-verstappen-breaches-agreement-as-worrying-lewis-hamilton-sign-spotted\/","title":{"rendered":"Max Verstappen breaches agreement as ‘worrying’ Lewis Hamilton sign spotted"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hamilton certain Red Bull's fate is sealed after what F1 rival Verstappen did<\/h3>\n

Max Verstappen’s landslide Abu Dhabi Grand Prix victory rounded off a dominant 2023 season for the Red Bull star, who had his third consecutive Drivers’ Championship sewn up long before the chequered flag was waved on Sunday.<\/p>\n

This year’s finale was therefore defined by how the rest of the standings would be settled. Mercedes pipped Ferrari in a tight battle for P2 in the Constructors’ Championship, and Fernando Alonso did enough to clinch fourth individually behind Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez.<\/p>\n

Drivers now have a long wait before the 2024 campaign gets underway in Bahrain, three months down the line in early March. But many have stuck around to conduct post-season tests in Abu Dhabi and get a head start on the competition.<\/p>\n

With all this to delve into and more, follow Express Sport<\/em>‘s live F1 updates below…<\/strong><\/p>\n

Don’t miss… <\/strong> Lando Norris tears into F1 rule change after Max Verstappen criticism<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Hill: Hamilton signs ‘worrying’<\/h3>\n

Former F1 world champion Damon Hill has expressed concern at Lewis Hamilton’s lack of optimism ahead of the 2024 season.<\/p>\n

The Mercedes man was downbeat after taking ninth place at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, piling pressure on the team to produce a competitive car.<\/p>\n

“I mean Lewis is often like that after a race that has not delivered what he wanted,” Hill explained. “It\u2019s been a long hard year, he\u2019ll bounce back after that.<\/p>\n

“But the worrying thing is when [interviewer] Rachel [Brookes] asked him about hope on what\u2019s coming, he wasn\u2019t effervescent about it. I think on reflection I\u2019m sure they will come back, they\u2019ve got to have learnt something from the last two seasons.”<\/p>\n

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Verstappen breaches ‘agreement’<\/h3>\n

Max Verstappen appeared to break a ‘hidden agreement’ after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix by failing to turn up and pay for the drivers’ traditional post-season meal.<\/p>\n

The Dutchman was one of seven F1 stars who could not be accounted for at the occasion, which was attended by the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.<\/p>\n

Back in 2016, former world champion Nico Rosberg explained: “The hidden agreement usually is that the world champion pays.”<\/p>\n

Welcome!<\/h3>\n

Good morning and a warm welcome to Express Sport<\/em>‘s F1 LIVE<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

Buckle up for the day ahead as we’ve got you covered with the latest and greatest stories from around the paddock.<\/p>\n

Updates to follow…<\/p>\n