Abu Dhabi The season ending Double Points Finale has certainly added a lot of spice to the 2014 Formula One calendar and a spectacular finish is on cards at the capital. Instead of the normal 25 points, the winner here will pocket 50. It was clearly put into place by the F1 governing body to bring in more excitement, especially, after the battle for championship since the last few years was done and dusted well before the season ending race — thanks to Red Bull’s ultimate dominance.
Though the system was implemented with the consent from all the teams and pioneered by promoter Bernie Ecclestone, it has drawn lot of criticism. Most feel the double-point plan was applied to give Abu Dhabi more prominence as it was not seen as one of the showpiece Grand Prix events, like the British GP or Monaco GP races.
This season’s championship, however, would have gone down to the wire regardless of whether the double points had a part to play or not.
Championship leader Lewis Hamilton (334 points) has to finish in the top two in Abu Dhabi to secure the Formula 1 World Championship for the second time in his career. And with Briton’s incredible season, that has seen him overshadow teammate Nico Rosberg (317 points) in terms of wins, it is not a tall ask; considering that his car has by far been the fastest on the grid all through the season.
Having, said that, in the same breath one has to say that the double-points can ruin Hamilton’s sensational season. Any slip-up here would spell doom for him. A retirement due to a mechanical failure and, the title could still go to his teammate.
Definitely more than anyone, it will be Hamilton’s purist supporters who will vouch this case, but one can’t deny the fact that a single race having so much of influence on the outcome of the entire season is a bit harsh.
The British driver has super surged Rosberg with five straight victories, his 10th of the season until the penultimate race in Brazil where he finished second. With a total of 32 career wins he surpassed Nigel Mansell’s previous British record of 31 Grand Prix wins.
Out of the five wins for Rosberg, only Monaco and Brazil, was won while actually racing his British teammate whereas mechanical failures for Lewis made the German’s life much easier in the other three.
Knowing Hamilton, he will not hold back and definitely go all out for a win. Nevertheless, he expressed his reservations against this double-point final race and it could very much be because of his past close shave experiences.
“You never know what is going to happen. But I have been there before and I know what it is like to go to the last race and lose the championship, and that is not an energy I want,” said Hamilton recently while speaking about the final showdown.
Even Formula One supremo Ecclestone washed his hands off the controversial double-points when he slammed the team bosses and termed them as ‘bloody idiots’. He revealed that, he wanted the final three races of the season to be double-points and not just the Abu Dhabi race; thus putting less emphasis on the season finale. That change would have meant that somebody would have needed a 150-point advantage minimum to be sure of the title.
It is highly unlikely that the double-points would be reintroduced in the 2015 season as the voices to scrap it is already gaining momentum and if by any chance the title slips from Hamilton, expect the British media to wage an all-out war.
Whatever be the scenario; this year’s season ending race has clearly catapulted the Abu Dhabi GP into the limelight and has captured the world attention. The forthcoming three days would keep Formula One fans at the edge of the seats and there will be plenty of action, drama and excitement when the lights go out at the start grid of the magnificent Yas Marina Circuit on November 23.
What does Lewis Hamilton need to do?
• If Lewis Hamilton clinches the race, then he is the World Champion.
• If Lewis Hamilton takes second, then regardless of a victory for teammate Nico Rosberg, the former will be the Champion.
• Lewis Hamilton can finish third, fourth or fifth, provided his Nico Rosberg does not win the race.
• Lewis Hamilton can finish sixth, provided Nico Rosberg does not finish in the top two.
• Lewis Hamilton can finish seventh or eighth, provided Nico Rosberg does not finish in the top three.
• Lewis Hamilton can finish ninth, provided Nico Rosberg does not finish in the top four.
• Lewis Hamilton can finish 10th or lower and will still be Champion, so long as Nico Rosberg finishes outside the top five.
What will be playing on Hamilton’s mind
• At his debut season in 2007 for McLaren-Mercedes, Kewis Hamilton was at the helm of affairs until the penultimate race in China. With a lead of 12 points from the then teammate Fernando Alonso, Hamilton seemed to have things under control in testing wet conditions. Struggling with the wrong intermediate tyres, he was called into the pits, but he failed to negotiate the pit lane and slid into the gravel, which ended his race. Making the most was Ferrari rival Kimi Raikkonen. Despite the setback, all Hamilton required going into Brazil’s Interlagos circuit was a fifth-place finish. However, a gearbox problem saw him at the start of the race meant that he could only manage to come up to seventh spot. Raikkonen won the Brazilian Grand Prix and claimed the championship by a single point.
• In 2008, Hamilton compensated for the earlier miss by clinching the maiden Championship but not before getting a scare going into the final race at Brazil with a seven-point edge over his nearest rival Filipe Massa of Ferrari. Massa went on to clinch the title and Hamilton, who left it to the last few corners, had to drive out of his skin to the fifth place by overtaking Toyota driver Timo Glock, who was fast losing traction with his tyres wearing-out.
