“We have reduced some mileage on crucial parts,” Wolff told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“We are trying to provide them with the best possible car to make sure there
are no technical issues. In terms of driving, they know what to do.”
With double points also threatening to tarnish the conclusion to one of the
finest championship duels in years, a car failure would be a bitter pill for
both Hamilton and Rosberg to swallow. Hamilton has retired from two races
this season with a mechanical problem, while Rosberg was the last to fail to
finish in Singapore with an electrical issue.
Hamilton leads Rosberg by 17 points heading into the final race in Abu Dhabi,
knowing that second place will guarantee him a second championship.
The 29-year-old said last night: “People talk about how long it’s been since I
won the title – but I honestly feel like I’m fighting for my first World
Championship all over again. Sure, I’m older and maybe a little bit wiser
than I was back then.
“I’ve learnt a lot in the years since 2008 – but I’m still the same driver. I
still have the same hunger, the same will to win, and I’ve been giving it
everything I’ve got from the word go this season. I’ve had ups and downs
along the way – but I’ve never once given up.”
Meanwhile, Caterham’s administrators have been accused of cynically “burying
bad news” by flaunting the success of their fans donations scheme on the day
they laid off all 200 staff.
One former employee, who preferred to remain anonymous, accused Finbarr
O’Connell, the administrator for the team, of seeking to divert attention
from the mass redundancies at the factory in Leafield, Oxfordshire, by
announcing the plan to race in Abu Dhabi.
“The whole cavalcade of publicity surrounding it on the same day that you have
made the employees redundant is a disgrace,” they told Telegraph Sport.
O’Connell said the “vast majority” of staff had asked to be made redundant
and that the timing was “purely coincidental”.