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Thanks to Bernie Ecclestone's much criticized double points system, this Sunday’s final race of the season in Abu Dhabi will decide the drivers' championship. One of Mercedes pair of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg will take home the 2014 title but there are a whole host of talking points about interesting secenarios that could take place when the race weekend gets underway.Here are 5 key factors that will decide the battle at the Yas Marina Circuit.
#5 Pole position
This was definitely the most important Saturday of the season. The excitement for Sunday’s race just doubled with Nico Rosberg edging Hamilton the starting position in the grid. Rosberg will look to break away from the field and enjoy an empty track in front of him.
Neither would want to endure a part of the race, where they are stuck in traffic, hampering their championship chances. Hamilton has one hand on the title, but with double points at stake, Rosberg might just fancy his chances with pole position.
#4 Pit stops
Pit stops will definitely play a crucial factor in this title decider. All throughout the season Hamilton, has had poor pit stops, with part of the blame falling on him overshooting his pit marks. Rosberg on the other hand, has had nearly impeccable stops and will be wanting more of the same in the final race.
Although, most of them haven’t resulted in huge changes in position, the element of risk still exists if a stop delays either one of them. If at all something ruins Hamilton’s charge, it could be the pit stops. Abu Dhabi would be a suitable venue, where Hamilton would like to put that right.
#3 Psychological battle
Despite a 17-point lead, Hamilton cannot be called favourite for the title. The intense 2014 championship has turned into a psychological battle between the Mercedes men. The childhood friends are very different characters and very different racers. On one side of the garage is the ice-cool calm and consistency of Rosberg and on the other side is Hamilton's fiery passion and blistering pace.
Keeping a cool head, as well as a steady hand on the wheel, could decide which of the contenders wins the title. Mercedes have put the All Blacks’ legendary psychologist Dr. Ceri Evans on standby in case Lewis Hamilton’s title bid implodes in Abu Dhabi. Previously Hamilton has rejected using a sports psychologist but team boss Toto Wolff fears the blow of losing could be so severe that he has been planning how to support Mercedes’ losing driver as well as celebrate with the winning one.
From the outside, it might seem that Hamilton has got the edge. If both are in a position to challenge each other for the lead, it has to be made sure that they do not crash into each other, and turn it into a farce. Something like that seems improbable, but nothing can be a gurantee after what happened in Belgium earlier in the season.
#2 Experience of winning
The two drivers' records are similar across their time in F1, but despite Rosberg having been competing for one more year than Hamilton (Rosberg joined in 2006 with Williams, Hamilton in 2007 with McLaren), the Briton's dramatic 2008 victory sees him better placed to close out the 2014 title.
Rosberg might be more hungrier to win that first title, but Hamilton will knows how to handle last race pressures.
#1 Mercedes\' reliability
Ever since the FIA announced the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix would be worth double points, much of the focus has been on how that could impact the drivers’ championship. Mercedes’ dominance was clear througout the season, and since the early stages it was evident that we’ll witness a two-horse race for the title.
17 points separate Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, and their pace advantage means a smooth weekend will see a one-two finish.
Second place will be enough for Hamilton, so the most likely issue that could deny him a second title is reliability. While Mercedes have had by far the quickest car this season, it has not been the most reliable with Hamilton retiring twice in Australia and Canada.
The brakes are one area which often causes Mercedes trouble – Rosberg has suffered with them too – and in a fight between teammates it could be the deciding factor.
