'It would be nice to jump Seb,' says Verstappen

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While Max Verstappen is satisfied with his current position in the Drivers' standings, he wouldn't mind going one better in Abu Dhabi and taking fourth from Sebastian Vettel.

The Red Bull and Ferrari drivers have had their share of one-on-one battles lately, with the last installment taking place in Brazil two weeks ago when Verstappen forced Vettel off the track, much to the latter's anger.

Going into the last race of 2016, the Dutchman trails his German rival by just five points in the championship. It should therefore be another close contact fight between the two men around the Yas Marina venue.

"To be honest, it would be nice to be ahead [of Vettel], but for the first four races I was not ahead," said Verstappen.

"You always lose points already, so I can just be happy to be that close. If I finish fourth it will be a bonus, but if I finish fifth that’s fine for me as well.

"At the end of the day it doesn’t make a massive difference because I’m only here to finish first – even second, I don’t care."

Despite their on-track rivalry and candid off-track exchanges in the media, Vettel actually contacted Verstappen after Brazil, and all appears well between the two men.

"He sent me a text after the race, but that was mainly about the tyres. It’s alright, we are racing drivers, so I think he realised soon afterwards that he couldn’t hold me behind anyway.

"If we are fighting a lot then maybe he can complain a bit more, but it was a very fair move. In Turn 4 he tried to do the same to me, but I quickly realised what he was trying to do so just backed off behind.

"I did the same to him, I just overtook him, we were next to each other and he just kept going around the outside. At one point I can’t do any more because I’m on the inside where it’s more slippery. And we didn’t even touch."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.