Abu Dhabi: With the Formula One drivers and constructors championships already wrapped up, Sunday’s season-ending F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix looks inconsequential — but ironically with no-one having anything to lose, it might just be the most entertaining race of the year.
Since Lewis Hamilton retained his drivers’ title in America last month, his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg has won two consecutive races in Mexico and Brazil to set him up for a hat-trick in the UAE.
But Hamilton is also aiming for a treble of his own having won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix twice in 2011 and 2014. And with their rivalry as tense as it is, neither driver will be willing to gift each other the honour of finishing 2015 on a high. So, it’s not as though there’s nothing riding on this weekend.
“I’ve had two really great weekends now in Mexico and Brazil, so I’m heading into the final race on a massive high,” said Rosberg, who lost the drivers championship to Hamilton at this stage last year due to retirement.
“Abu Dhabi hasn’t always been an easy one for me,” the 30-year-old German admitted. “Of course, last year was probably my biggest disappointment - losing the title at the last moment with a mechanical problem. But I showed my speed there with pole position and I have good momentum behind me right now, so I’m aiming to end the season on a big positive this time around,” he added.
However, Hamilton was just as convinced that he could wreck Rosberg’s revival and underline his own dominance this season with victory in the UAE capital.
“Last year, this place brought probably the most intense weekend of my life,” said the 30-year-old Englishman. “I didn’t sleep much through nerves and not knowing what was ahead. But this time around there’s no pressure, so I’ll be well-rested and aiming to go out on a high,” he added.
Former F1 driver turned pundit David Coulthard said the Mercedes pair should be allowed to scrap it out this weekend, after a season of team strategies and controls, designed to ensure collective over individual good.
“With one race of the season to go, wouldn’t it be cool if Mercedes — now they have nothing to lose and both championships are tied up — just let their drivers and their respective engineers off the leash and ran a gloves-off race in Abu Dhabi next weekend,” said Coulthard.
“Just for one race, Mercedes could try a different approach to increase the entertainment value of a season finale which otherwise could lack a bit of interest — if we’re honest.”
The risk of that, of course, is if neither win, especially as waiting in the wings will be Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who finished third in Brazil, and Williams Mercedes Felipe Massa, who finished second in this event last year.
“Of course, it will be close as always with Lewis and we saw a big push from Ferrari in Sao Paulo, so it won’t be straightforward,” added Rosberg. “But I’m up for a battle and hopefully we can put on a great show for the fans to end the year.”
Massa said: “Abu Dhabi last season, I think this was the best race I’ve had in my time at Williams. To be able to fight for the victory was amazing, there have been two races we were really fighting for the victory, one was Silverstone this year and the other was Abu Dhabi.
“We got very close to winning the race, it was the best result for the team with both cars on the podium.”
