AUSTIN – Up 17 points with just three races remaining, Lewis Hamilton is poised to capture his second World Championship (2008). Unless, of course, he doesn’t.
It’s not out of the realm of possibility where Hamilton could lose the title at the Abu Dhabi double points finale, where 50 points for a win are on offer as opposed to the usual 25, and it goes down from there (18 to 36, 15 to 30, 12 to 24, 10 to 20 and so on).
Any gap more than 26 points – which could be achieved by Hamilton winning both of the next two races even if Rosberg finishes second in both – would see the gap as larger than a normal race win, but still achievable for Rosberg if Hamilton was to encounter problems.
Hamilton questioned the fairness as politely as possible during the Thursday FIA press conference, although he did let slip one potential bulletin board line if he was to lose the title in such a fashion.
“I think the question is ‘what is fair?’” he said. “This is the rule that they have brought in for the first time; do I really agree with it? I don’t know if any of us agree with it or do not agree with it, but it is the way it is and you just have to deal with it and just hope for the best really.
“It would suck if that was the case – big time – but I’m not even going to put that negative energy out there. I’m just going to try and do the best job I can with the car that I have and what will be will be, I guess.”
Hamilton has nine wins this season while Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg has four. The gloves are off now the final three races of the season as the pair have already confirmed the Constructor’s Championship last race at Sochi.
Hamilton guarded against F1 keeping the regulation for 2015 and beyond.
“For the future, I wouldn’t perhaps advise it for the following years but…” he trailed off.
