Autosportfoto

F1 Abu Dhabi GP: May the best man win - Wolff

Toto Wolff says with the F1 world championship going down to the final round it is proof how closely matched Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have been 2016 and is determined for Mercedes to give both drivers a flawless race weekend to ensure a fair and fierce battle.

The Mercedes team principal has overseen a third consecutive world championship-winning campaign and only the drivers' world title is left to decide with Rosberg holding a 12 point lead over Hamilton ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

Wolff has continually stressed Mercedes must deliver its maximum performance for both cars to ensure a level platform for the pair to battle on track as the team hunts an eighth 1-2 result of the year at the Yas Marian Circuit.

"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," Wolff said. "Both of them have been exceptional and either one would make a worthy champion.

"We saw yet another classic Interlagos race. To come away from all the drama of the crazy weather, the re-starts and the extreme track conditions with a 1-2 finish was a special result.

"Of course, the bigger picture is an exciting finale in Abu Dhabi. To have the title decided between our two drivers at the final race of the season, for the second time in three years, shows just how closely matched they are. It also shows how much this team has achieved. We can be very proud of that."

Aside from the drivers' world championship duel, Mercedes has continued to shift its emphasis towards 2017 ahead of the regulation revamp having wrapped up the constructors' world title in Japan.

"It's been a gruelling year for us all, with a record-breaking calendar and the added challenge of a new regulation set to prepare for in 2017," he said. "After such a battle of endurance, the winner can say without doubt that they earned it. We are all excited to see who that will be. May the best man win." 

Zdroj: crash.net