Hamilton and Verstappen 'don't want to see the stewards' on Sunday

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are confident they won't be summoned to the stewards in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, the pair reacting to a clear warning addressed by the FIA ahead of this weekend's showdown.

F1 race director Michael Masi sent out a note to all competitors on Thursday, but the message specifically targeted Red Bull and Mercedes, and its star drivers, and reminded the latter of a few important principles included in the International Sporting Code, as well as the sanctions that could be levied upon them should they step out of line.

In Thursday's divers' press conference at Yas Marina, Hamilton and Verstappen were both asked about the FIA's strong warning.

"It's happened in the past," noted Hamilton. "I'm sure the stewards have taken the precautions they have this time around. I think that's fair that they do it.

"Hopefully they won't need to be used and we have a great race and move forward, but I don't really particularly have an opinion about it.

"I'm here to do my job and I don't want to see the stewards any more than they want to see me!"

Verstappen said that he knew "what's in the Sporting Code".

"So I think nobody needs to be really reminded of that. I think they can put it in every single race weekend. There's nothing newly added for this weekend."

While the FIA will be closely monitoring the two protagonists' behaviour out on track this weekend, the prospect of a battle ending up in the wall can't be dismissed.

But Verstappen isn't giving such a grim outlook a thought.

"I think as a driver, you don't think about these things," said the Dutchman.

"You go to a weekend where you just want to do the best you can as a team, and of course you try to win the race, but naturally the media starts to say these things.

"I don't really have a lot more to comment on that. I think I arrive here just trying to do the best I can, trying to be the best prepared and, of course, naturally, trying to win."

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Sitting alongside his nemesis, Hamilton agreed with his nemesis.

"Going into the weekend, I don't put any energy towards that sort of thing. I think at the end of the day, I truly do believe that everyone here racing comes to win. I would like to believe everyone wants to do it the right way," Hamilton said. "And so I don't even let that creep into my mind.

"I'm here for a great race. We're arriving on the positive as a team, we've got the car in a great place. They won here last year.

"So without doubt, they're going to be strong this weekend. But I think we've chased and caught up a lot. And I think we can come here and be strong this weekend."

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