The ultimate fight is on, and everyone can feel the tension after Nico Rosberg took the pole position following the Formula One qualifying in Abu Dhabi. The drama all boils down to the double points scoring for the last race of the season, which was announced December last year.
According to Bernie Ecclestone, the double points feature aims to build excitement for the end of the season. It was originally planned for the last three races of the season, but everyone in the top brass of F1 eventually agreed to use it only in the last race.
Fans, sports analysts, and racing personnel were not receptive to the gimmick. Mercedes even made a mockery of the new F1 rules in a video. It should be noted that Rosberg even called the double points scoring system in the final race as “rubbish” in that same video. However, in a bizarre twist of fate, the joke seems to be on him now as his chance of winning the F1 World Title lies in that system.
Even with 334 points in the scorecard of Lewis Hamilton, which is 17 points ahead of his teammate, his lock on the World Championship could still be snatched away from him. With the double points in Abu Dhabi, a scenario wherein Rosberg would win the race and Hamilton finishing no higher than the third position would switch the results in the German’s favor.
Mercedes-AMG Petronas already has the coveted Constructors’ Championship, but Toto Wolff’s worries are not yet over as the upcoming race threatens to further drive a wedge between his drivers. Although the two Mercedes drivers ensured that they will finish the last fight in a professional manner, everyone can feel the pressure in these two based on their body language in videos and hints shown in interviews from several known news sources.
Due to the negative feedback of the F1 community in the double points system of the last race, Ecclestone announced that it will be scrapped in the next season.
Will Rosberg get an upset or will Hamilton grab the title this year? Tune in to the coming race to find out how everything unfolds.