Verstappen leads Hamilton by just six points at the top of the F1 chamꦰpionship table going into the final six races of a season that has produced the closes💦t title battle in years. 

With Red Bull and Mercedes locked in an intense scrap for supremacy, the title showdown between Verstappen and Hamilton is expe🃏cted t𝕴o go all the way to the season finale in Abu Dhabi in December. 

Vers✅tappen is seeking his maiden world title, while Hamilton is aiming to surpass Michael Schumacher and become F1’s first eight-time world champion by winning his fifth consecutive drivers’ crown. 

“I think just kind of ‘may the best man win’,” Ricciardo - who partnered Verstappen at Red Bull between 2016 and 2018 - responded when asked who he would like to see⛎ win the world championship. 

“The rivalry they’ve had this year has been pretty awesome, as a fan. I think they’ve left it all out there.🎃 So from that point of view, I think they are where they are, I think it’s fair at the moment in terms of they are nip-and-tuck. So no preference.

“I think obviously people do like to see a fresh face, so maybe Max is the more ༒popular vote because it would be a first title f🌃or him and it’s something new and exciting for everyone. So that’s always like you’ve got that feel-good story.

“But I think as long as no like misfortune is involved, then I think the guy that wins is the one that’s go🌸ing to deserve it.”

Ricciardo’s🌌 McLaren teammate Lando Norris, who sits fourth in the championship and is 117.5 points behind Verstappen with a total of 159 points left up for grabs, joked: “I would like to win it, to be honest with you. 

“I think it’s just a bit far away now. I don’t mind. Obviously I support Lewis as a Brit, but I’m als𒆙o good mates with Max. 

“So I just think whoever wins has d🌱one the best job.꧒ They’ve been very equal all season, so may the best man win. That’s it.”