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Double-points finale could overshadow F1 title battle

5th November, 2014
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Who will be watching Azerbaijan when the biggest show in motorsport is running simultaneously? (Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool)
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5th November, 2014
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A Mercedes-Benz grand prix driver will win the 2014 Formula One world championship. But we won’t know whether it’ll be Lewis Hamilton or Nico Rosberg until the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

That’s because the final race of the season is worth double points.

So Hamilton, who leads by 24 points with two races to go after winning 10 races to Rosberg’s four, can’t wrap up the title in the penultimate race in Brazil where the usual 25 points is available for a win.

The decision to double the points for the season finale at Abu Dhabi drew heavy criticism when announced. After all, why should one grand prix count for double over another? Especially when Abu Dhabi can hardly justify the double-points stature over classic races such as Monaco, Monza and Silverstone.

The rule was designed to keep the championship battle alive going into the final race of the year, following the most recent Sebastian Vettel blowout seasons, which it will do. But at what cost to the fairness of the sporting contest?

Even if Hamilton wins in Brazil and Rosberg doesn’t score points, Hamilton will lead by 49 points heading into the season finale – still within catching distance should Rosberg win in Abu Dhabi and Hamilton score nothing.

But is it right that Hamilton, who has undoubtedly been the better driver and therefore the deserving champion, could lose the championship with a badly-timed retirement in the double-points finale?

Given Mercedes-Benz’s speed advantage over the rest of the field and it’s an almost certainty that should they finish, one of the team’s drivers will win. But both Rosberg and Hamilton have recorded two retirements each this season, highlighting that the Mercedes-Benz package isn’t exactly bulletproof.

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So the championship does indeed hinge on whether Hamilton’s Mercedes-Benz avoids any problems in Abu Dhabi, hardly a fair way to decide the title fight when he has had the edge over his teammate.

“The last race with double points has the potential to overshadow the season,” said Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff, who echoed the sentiments of many Formula One fans.

“We know why the double points came – and it made all the sense in the world to make it spectacular for the viewers – but now we’re in a situation where it could change the outcome.”

In a season where controversy has dogged Formula One – from the financial crisis that’s sent two teams into administration, to dwindling crowds blamed on the meek noise from the new-generation engines to Mercedes’ domination – the last thing the sport needs is the wrong driver winning the championship because of a wrong rule.

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