{"id":300426,"date":"2023-11-25T08:25:17","date_gmt":"2023-11-25T08:25:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=300426"},"modified":"2023-11-25T08:25:17","modified_gmt":"2023-11-25T08:25:17","slug":"f1-live-lewis-hamilton-denies-swap-rumours-as-abu-dhabi-track-claims-victim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/racing\/f1\/f1-live-lewis-hamilton-denies-swap-rumours-as-abu-dhabi-track-claims-victim\/","title":{"rendered":"F1 LIVE: Lewis Hamilton denies swap rumours as Abu Dhabi track claims victim"},"content":{"rendered":"

Christian Horner lifts lid on 'serious talks' with Lewis Hamilton about joining Red Bull<\/h3>\n

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concludes the F1 calendar for the season this weekend with drivers set to fight it out during qualifying today. Despite already wrapping up the Drivers\u2019 Championship Max Verstappen was in a\u00a0restless mood during practice as he pushed past both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton as they exited the pit lane.<\/p>\n

The Dutch driver has 18 victories to his name this season from 22 rounds and will be favourite to win for a third consecutive season in Abu Dhabi. Red Bull chief Christian Horner sparked controversy ahead of the race weekend by claiming that a Hamilton representative had enquired about the possibility of British driver joining Red Bull, before signing a contract renewal at Mercedes.<\/p>\n

Hamilton denies the rumour stating that he is happy with the Silver Arrows. However, the seven-time world champion is without a race victory in the last two seasons after struggling with his car in consecutive campaigns.<\/p>\n

The Abu Dhabi track has already taken its first victim of the weekend as Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz lost control of his car and span into the barriers. Sainz seriously damaged his car and the crash resulted in the second practice session being delayed.<\/p>\n

You can follow all of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix build-up with Express Sport\u2019s LIVE blog below\u2026<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/i>More F1…\u00a0Lewis Hamilton’s Abu Dhabi GP fear says it all as Max Verstappen fight ‘years’ away<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Marko supports Horner\u2019s comments on Hamilton<\/h3>\n

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Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has supported Christian Horner\u2019s story that Lewis Hamilton was interested in joining the team.<\/p>\n

However, he said that there was a condition that risked upsetting three-time title winner Max Verstappen.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can only say that\u00a0Christian Horner\u00a0told me in January about a text message he received from\u00a0Hamilton\u2018s entourage,\u201d\u00a0Marko\u00a0told F1 Insider. \u201cIt seemed authorised by the driver.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was talk of a condition that\u00a0Hamilton\u00a0set: He only wanted to drive for\u00a0Red Bull\u00a0if he also got the same material as\u00a0Max Verstappen. For me, at least, there was no doubt that the request from the\u00a0Hamilton\u00a0side was serious.\u201d<\/p>\n

Good morning<\/h3>\n

Good morning and welcome to Express Sport’s F1 coverage\u00a0on race weekend at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.<\/p>\n

Drivers will be competing for qualifying positions this afternoon following the third practice session.<\/p>\n