Rosberg eyeing hat-trick of wins to deny team mate Hamilton high finish

Abu Dhabi - For starters, Hamilton could yet lose his third world title despite wrapping things up in Texas. According to some news reports, the Briton's title remains provisional for now.

 The Abu Dhabi twilight has seen a new world champion sparkle under the bright lights of the spectacular Yas Marina Circuit more or less over the past six years.
The season finale has seen championship battles with four of the six being played out in the UAE Capital. But Abu Dhabi wouldn't be able to enjoy that privilege in the seventh installment of the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Both the Drivers' and the Constructors' Championships have already been sewn up with Mercedes dominant in sealing the Constructors' title in the inaugural race in Sochi, Russia and their driver Lewis Hamilton equally dominant in wrapping up his third World Championship and second on the bounce a race later in the US.
Some may term the last round in Abu Dhabi as a 'dead rubber' but that is far off the mark. There is still a lot to play for up and down the grid with ample sub-plots to the main narrative.
For starters, Hamilton could yet lose his third world title despite wrapping things up in Texas. According to some news reports, the Briton's title remains provisional for now.
The Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the world governing body, have to wait until after this race weekend to check whether Mercedes has fully complied with the regulations with its power unit this season.
The news report said that a detailed three-day check of the engine will be done next week, after the race in Abu Dhabi.
If the engine does not conform to the rules and regulations, Hamilton faces the prospect of being disqualified for the entire season, the report said.
Meanwhile, keeping that aside, there is another interesting prospect this race weekend with Hamilton's Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg eyeing a hat-trick of race wins.
Rosberg won the previous two races in Mexico and Brazil and is looking to make it three from the last three races and deny Hamilton from ending the season on a high. The German will be hoping to prove a point heading into a new season.
Hamilton has been dominant this season with 10 Grands Prix wins, while Rosberg has five so far. Hamilton has won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix twice and it was also the scene of his second world title last year.
Rosberg though, hasn't won here and only has a third place to show from 2013.
"I've had two really great weekends now in Mexico and Brazil, so I'm heading into the final race on a massive high," said Rosberg.
"Abu Dhabi hasn't always been an easy one for me. Of course, last year was probably my biggest disappointment - losing the title at the last moment with a mechanical problem. But I showed my speed there with pole position and I have good momentum behind me right now, so I'm aiming to end the season on a big positive this time around," he added.
"Of course, it will be close as always with Lewis and we saw a big push from Ferrari in Sao Paulo, so it won't be straightforward. But I'm up for a battle and hopefully we can put on a great show for the fans to end the year," said the German.
The championship may have been decided but there's pride at stake out in this friends-foe teammate rivalry.
Meanwhile, Sebastian Vettel too will hope to end his first year as a Ferrari driver on a high. The German has been the only one to pose some kind of a threat to the Mercedes domination with three wins this season.
A thrilling battle is in the offing between Vettel's teammate Kimi Raikkonen and Williams' Valtteri Bottas. Raikkonen, a winner here in 2102, will be scrapping it out with Bottas for fourth in the Drivers' standings, in what it expected to be a 'Fight of the Finns.'
Bottas is currently fourth with 136 points with 'Iceman' Raikkonen a further point adrift.
So, it is not just a 'dead rubber,' as some may say.
james@khaleejtimes.com