The nightmare for the team, and particularly Hamilton who has won 10 races to
Rosberg’s five, is mechanical failure.
To many fans, it would turn the championship into a travesty if he loses out
that way.
“Clearly Lewis breaking down would have a massive impact on his
championship attempt. And it would, for me personally, be a nightmare,”
said Mercedes motorsport head Toto Wolff.
“We need to provide him with the most reliable car and we want the
championship to end in a straight and fair battle and not by one of them
breaking down.”
While the focus is on the title scrap between the two Mercedes rivals, whose
relationship has been under the microscope all year, other battles will be
fought behind them in what amounts to a last roll of the dice for some.
Red Bull are sure of second place while Williams look set to finish ahead of
Ferrari for the first time since they took their last title in 1997.
For Ferrari, the sport’s most successful and glamorous team, it is the last
chance to stave off their first winless season since 1993.
Sauber are also staring at their first season without a single point while
Caterham, in administration and with a skeleton crew, are hoping to do
enough to convince a buyer to rescue them.
The race will be quadruple champion Sebastian Vettel’s farewell to Red Bull
and could also be the final appearance in Formula One of 2009 world champion
Jenson Button, Hamilton’s former McLaren team-mate.
McLaren, who end a long relationship with Mercedes and start a new partnership
with Honda after Abu Dhabi, are expected to sign Fernando Alonso from
Ferrari and have yet to decide whether to keep Button or Danish rookie Kevin
Magnussen.
Other drivers possibly preparing for their final curtain call are Sauber’s
German Adrian Sutil and Mexican Esteban Gutiérrez, both surplus to
requirement at the Swiss team. (
Yas Marina: Race Date: 23 Nov 2014
- First Grand Prix: 2009
- Number of Laps: 55
- Circuit Length: 5.554km
- Race Distance: 305.355km
- Lap Record: 1:40.279 – S Vettel (2009)
F1 session times
Friday 21st November 2014
- Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Free Practice 1: 13:00-14:30 (UK time: 9:00-10:30)
- Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Free Practice 2: 17:00-18:30 (UK time:
13:00-14:30)
Saturday 22nd November 2014
- Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Free Practice 3: 14:00-15:00 (UK time:
10:00-11:00) - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Qualifying: 17:00 (UK time: 13:00)
Sunday 23rd November 2014
- Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: 17:00 (UK time: 13:00)