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The season-ending race pits Mercedes' seven-times world champion
Hamilton against Red Bull's Verstappen with the pair level on
points but the Dutch youngster ahead 9-8 on race wins.
"We're finding our way back to things we love but COVID has not
gone away," said Hamilton, who missed a race in Bahrain last
year due to the virus, in a video released by Formula One on
Saturday and featuring 19 of the 20 drivers.
"Please do your bit," said Verstappen.
"Get vaccinated, I think it's the sensible thing to do," added
Germany's quadruple champion Sebastian Vettel, who races for
Aston Martin.
"We need to be in this together and we need to be all in the
same boat," said Spain's double champion Fernando Alonso.
Alfa Romeo's Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 world champion who will be
retiring after Sunday's race aged 42, was not featured. The Finn
tested positive for the virus in September and missed two races.
Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali said vaccines and
boosters were the way ahead.
"We need to keep everyone safe and move forward together. I have
had my vaccine and my booster and ask everyone to do the same.
Formula One is moving ahead, and we ask for everyone to play
their part," he said.
Formula One teams have operated in a protective bubble with
regular testing since last year, although protocols have been
eased and fans allowed back at races in numbers.
Seven drivers have tested positive so far: Hamilton, Red Bull's
Sergio Perez, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, AlphaTauri's Pierre
Gasly, McLaren's Lando Norris, Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and
Raikkonen.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, Editing by William
Mallard)
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