On Homestretch, it's Lewis Hamilton vs Nico Rosberg for Race to 2014 F1 Crown
Only 17 points separate Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. The season-ending F1 race in Abu Dhabi on November 23 should see a fight to finish.
- Jepher Christopher Nickels
- Updated: November 18, 2014 08:40 pm IST
Lewis Hamilton, who is chasing his second Formula One World Championship, needs at least a second-place finish to clinch this season's title. Hamilton currently has 334 points, 17 more than his Mercedes teammate and title rival Nico Rosberg.
With double the points (usually a winner gets 25 points for a victory) up for grabs in the final race of the season at Abu Dhabi this weekend, Hamilton would love to grab 50 points and lift the coveted trophy.
On the other hand, Rosberg (317 points) will be confident going into the race after pipping the Briton at the penultimate race in Brazil to keep his title hopes on track. The German will be aiming for victory in the hope Hamilton finishes third or lower.
While it is certain that the title will be decided between the Mercedes duo, Hamilton would expect another fierce challenge from his teammate when the pair resumes hostilities at the Yas Marina circuit on super Sunday in Formula One.
Hamilton, on his debut season in 2007, lost the championship by just one point to Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari, while the next season the Briton edged Ferari's Felipe Massa to clinch his first title. Once again it's going down-to-the-wire before the world champion is decided.
The duo has already led Mercedes to their maiden Constructors' Championship, with Red Bull Racing set to finish second - currently Mercedes lead by 278 points.
This season too had controversy, drama and on-track excitement with Mercedes taking the honours 15 times out of 18 races so far. It is also tough to believe that four-time defending champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull failed to register even a single victory. The other three wins were registered by Vettel's teammate Daniel Ricciardo.