F1 Race Director Warns Hamilton And Verstappen: Unsportsmanlike Drivers In Abu Dhabi Can Be Suspended Or Deducted Points

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen at a press conference ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Twitter @f1)

JAKARTA - Race director Michael Masi has warned that Formula 1 drivers could be suspended or lose all their points if caught racing in an unsportsmanlike manner in the deciding series in Abu Dhabi.

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and his main Red Bull rival Max Verstappen head into the evening race at the Yas Marina Circuit this weekend with the same points, but the Dutchman is nine wins ahead of Hamilton's eight this season.

If both of them fail to get points there then Verstappen becomes world champion.

The two drivers have bumped into the track at least three times this season, including in the previous race in Saudi Arabia, raising fears that the weekend's race could end in another crash.

However, Masi emphatically warned that such a scenario could have serious consequences, underscoring international sporting codes regarding unsportsmanlike conduct.

"In particular I would like to remind you to comply with the articles detailed below," Masi said in a written statement as quoted by Reuters from Reuters.

He pointed to Article 12.2.1I which regulates "any violation of the principle of fairness in competition, unsportsmanlike conduct or attempts to influence the outcome of a competition in a manner that is contrary to sporting ethics."

Masi also cites Article 12.4.5 which provides for penalties that can be imposed by stewards including "suspension for one or more competitions, withdrawal of points for championships."

"I think it's natural for them to do that," said Hamilton, who sat beside Verstappen at a pre-race press conference in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. "Hopefully, it doesn't have to happen and we have a great race and we move forward."

The F1 world title has been contested in collisions in the past, most notably the incidents between Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna in 1989 and 1990, and between Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill in 1994.

​Schumacher and Villeneuve also collided in the closing race of the 1997 season while fighting for race leadership which resulted in the German driver being disqualified from the season in its entirety for his offense.

As the 1996 world champion, Hill told Sky Sports after the Jeddah race that Verstappen's riding style reminded him of Schumacher's uncompromising approach.

While he didn't say Verstappen would do any dirty tricks, the German's behavior on the track has caught the eye.

Steward fully blamed Verstappen's defensive tactics for causing the collision with Hamilton in Jeddah and rewarded him with two penalties which added up to a total of 15 seconds.

Verstappen said there was no need to be reminded of the sport's code of ethics.

"I know what a sports code is," he said. "I think they can use it every race weekend, nothing new has been added this weekend."