"We now have one very important final duty - to give Nico and Lewis the platform they need to battle it out to the flag," says Toto Wolff
Monday 28 November 2016 11:28, UK
Mercedes say they are ready for the "significant tension" of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton's title-deciding Abu Dhabi showdown and hope the decider is settled by a "fair fight".
For the second time in three seasons, the all-Mercedes battle for the Drivers' Championship comes down to a 'Duel in the Desert' with Rosberg's 12-point advantage over Hamilton making him the clear title favourite.
Hamilton on his 'unlikely' title chances
But while the wider focus will inevitably be on the two drivers' performances on track in Abu Dhabi, Mercedes have promised to do their part in ensuring the title is not inadvertently settled by unreliability or team mistakes.
"This is the first time we've had a 21st race in any Formula 1 season and it's fitting that such a record-breaking year should conclude with the Drivers' Championship being fought right to the very end," said Paddy Lowe, Mercedes' technical chief. "It's great for fans of the sport.
"Of course, it also means significant tension within our particular camp - but the team has shown itself highly adept at managing this type of situation over the past few years. We will approach this weekend as we would any other, with the primary objective of ensuring that the title is decided on track in a fair fight."
Toto Wolff reiterated the contribution the team can make to the spectacle of the final race, and made it clear that either Rosberg or Hamilton would be a fully-deserving champion.
"As a group, we now have one very important final duty this season - to give Nico and Lewis the platform they need to battle it out to the flag," said Wolff.
"Both of them have been exceptional and either one would make a worthy champion."
While Rosberg's title challenge was ultimately ended by unreliability in the first 'Duel in the Desert' of 2014, Hamilton's championship defence this year has been affected by engine failures and the Briton admits he is "faced with pretty impossible odds no matter what I do this weekend".
However, having had experience of unexpected final-day turnarounds earlier in his career, Hamilton added: "I can't and won't give up. You never know what might happen - however unlikely it may seem."
Although he missed out on his first 'match point' to clinch his maiden title in Brazil, Rosberg says he is relaxed about the challenge ahead in Abu Dhabi and does not see a reason to change his season-long mantra of taking one race at a time.
"I've had a great week, relaxing and catching up with my family and friends, so I feel like I'm in a good place. In Brazil, after the race, I was joking that I would still be taking things one race at a time. But, the more I think about it, the more that's actually not as crazy as it sounds. I have to treat this like any other race."
Rosberg will win his first world title if he finishes anywhere on the podium in Sunday's race.
