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Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen had managed to keep things cordial - unntil now.

The pair have been on the edge non-stop since the curtain was lifted at the season’s very first race back in March, but Verstappen finally took things too far at turn 26 of the Jeddah Corniche circuit.

Hamilton and Verstappen collided in an incident that will go down in F1 folklore
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Hamilton and Verstappen collided in an incident that will go down in F1 folkloreCredit: Getty
The FIA confirmed Verstappen did unnecessarily brake with Hamilton right behind, but the Brit still won the race with a damaged car
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The FIA confirmed Verstappen did unnecessarily brake with Hamilton right behind, but the Brit still won the race with a damaged carCredit: Getty

In applying 69 bar to his brakes with Hamilton right behind, Verstappen ratcheted up tension to fever pitch with a collision in the season’s penultimate race, turning things nasty with one round to go.

Astonishingly level on points heading into the final race in Abu Dhabi, the winner will take all, but Verstappen has an ace up his sleeve, that he’s shown he’s happy to use.

The points may be level, but Verstappen leads the championship due to his superior total of race wins this season, and he has the option of pulling out a card infamously used throughout the sport’s history.

Formula 1 has been starved of drama for almost a decade thanks to Red Bull’s four years of dominance followed by Mercedes breezing to victory after victory in the turbo-hybrid era.

Hamilton has had things easy most years since 2014, but this season has pushed him right to the edge
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Hamilton has had things easy most years since 2014, but this season has pushed him right to the edgeCredit: AFP
The pair were still on talking terms after a number of high-profile incidents but that's all now changed
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The pair were still on talking terms after a number of high-profile incidents but that's all now changed

But you don’t have to look much further back for an indication of what might be about to come on December 12.

Motorsport is littered with incidents of title-leaders taking matters into their own hands, and Formula 1’s most shocking occurrence came in arguably the only title bout that can rival this year’s.

In the 1989 season, two of the sport’s greatest ever drivers, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, were teammates at McLaren and in the midst of F1’s most vitriolic rivalry.

Even a driver as talented as Senna met his match with Prost
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Even a driver as talented as Senna met his match with Prost

In the penultimate round at Suzuka in Japan, Senna, desperate to keep his title hopes alive, tailed Prost through the iconic 103R corner before diving in at the heavy-braking chicane.

With Senna bolting up the inside, Prost turned in on his rival, causing both cars to stop, and Prost to retire.

Senna rejoined the track but was later disqualified for a dangerous re-entry, meaning Prost’s turn in won him the title.

Tensions were too high, meaning Prost left for Ferrari the following year, before the two again met for a title showdown in Japan, but with roles reversed.

Senna opted to preserve his title lead by taking him and Prost out of the race. Could Verstappen do the same?
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Senna opted to preserve his title lead by taking him and Prost out of the race. Could Verstappen do the same?Credit: Getty
Prost's Ferrari was left in a heap, handing the title to Senna
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Prost's Ferrari was left in a heap, handing the title to SennaCredit: Getty

This time Senna was leading the championship, and after losing his pole position to Prost at turn one, Senna bolted into his rival, taking both out, and claiming the title.

Incredibly, Verstappen and his former Red Bull teammate Pierre Gasly were shown the clip in 2019, and the Dutchman made his thoughts on Senna’s tactics incredibly clear.

“What would you have done in this case?” .

Verstappen and Gasly commented on one of the most infamous title clashes in 2019
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Verstappen and Gasly commented on one of the most infamous title clashes in 2019Credit: YouTube - Formula 1
Verstappen has plenty to think about after Jeddah, including if he's going to employ some of Senna's tactics
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Verstappen has plenty to think about after Jeddah, including if he's going to employ some of Senna's tacticsCredit: AFP

“Probably the same to be fair,” Gasly replied.

And Verstappen’s next comment could become incredibly prescient next weekend.

The Dutchman added: “I mean why not?”

The 24-year-old who could find himself in a near-identical scenario when he approaches Hamilton at turn one in Abu Dhabi and he could take a leaf out of the history books.

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