In one of the fiercest F1 tournaments to date, it’s all set to come to an end in an epic showdown at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi on 23rd November.
This year’s tournament has not been without its stand out moments and even shocks, including the heartbreaking moment which saw Marussia-Ferrari’s Jules Bianchi suffer a fateful crash in Suzuka during the Japanese Grand Prix in October. The 25-year-old Frenchman remains in hospital in Japan in a coma, while his hosting team Marussia-Ferrari retired from the competition thereon.
Now, a month later, the tables have turned and it seems that Marussia-Ferrari could in fact be returning to the F1 in time for the Abu Dhabi races on Sunday.
However, amidst the shock of Jules Bianchi, another hot topic that has been on Formula 1 fans’ minds since the tournament kicked off in March is the ongoing rivalry between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton.
The pair have without a doubt dominated the F1 standings this year but it could all come to blows in their final showdown at Yas Marina. Currently, Hamilton has the lead with 334 points, while his fellow Mercedes partner trails behind in second place with 317.
With Abu Dhabi being the last race however, this could all be set to change thanks to the ‘double-up’ points system. Traditionally, winners of Formula 1 races walk away with 25 points, while second and third place achieve 18 and 15 points respectively. This is doubled however on the final race, meaning that there are a potential 50 points up for grabs for the winner.
For those who are betting on the race and find themselves a little baffled by the numbers, there are multiple apps out there which can keep spectators in the game. To make it simple, however, Hamilton is odds on favourite to win as he needs little more than second place to walk away with the coveted points. However, he can still clinch the title if by some miracle he comes in third, fourth or fifth, and Rosberg does not win.
This all sounds pretty promising for the British racing prodigy, but a shaky finish at Brazil will doubtless affect his nerves come race day on 23rd November. After admitting that a mid-race spin cost him the victory in Brazil, Hamilton will be keen not to make the same mistake again.
With a relatively easy track however and an even better track record, there’s every chance that Hamilton will indeed top it off in Abu Dhabi.
