Either that, or a collision/crash/puncture of some sort.

 

It's always good when there is still a chance on the last race of the season. We've seen many championship leaders usurped in the closing stages of the title. (See Hunt, Prost and even Hamilton's first title win).
Robert has everything to lose so he needs a cool head and to stay out of the way of the Red Bulls, particularly that crazy Dutchman !
I for one will be on the edge of my seat for the first corner....
But let's hope next year the other teams can close the gap on the Mercs. It's getting a bit boring seeing them in front all the time.

 

I hope Rosberg wins the race and takes the championship that way. If Hamilton wins and Rosberg simply drives for second, as is most likely, it'll feel a little bit hollow, and it being decided by a DNF would be sad.

I guess we'll see. I don't think my nerves can take another 2008 style finale.

 

either Ros is holding back a little in FP1 or the RB's looking racey...

For the sake of an exciting weekend, let's hope the latter so they make a real race of it... winner takes all hopefully.

although I'm curious, whilst Rosberg has said he'll race fair, should things not be going his way, would he have the Schumacher-esque nerve to simply punt Hamilton off track? A DNF for both would be a good result as I've never heard of points deductions... he might start the first race of next year with a grid penalty, but he'd sleep easy with the championship around his neck

 

To be honest the possible tactics are the only thing that'll be mildly interesting about the season finale.

The title is pretty much sewn up bar a mechanical.

Rosberg could easily punt Hamilton off in a 'racing' incident (I wouldn't blame him) and Hamilton may try and back Rosberg into the Bulls and bring Mad Max into play, but then he risks getting punted off.

 

Schumacher had all his points taken away for his 1997 crash into Villeneuve. Not that it made a difference.

 

I predict one of two scenarios:

1. Rosberg becomes Champion. Hamilton fanboys spend the entire bloody winter whingeing and whining about it and don't shut up until pre-season testing begins next year.

2. Hamilton becomes Champion. Hamilton fanboys spend the entire bloody winter crowing about it and don't shut up until pre-season testing begins next year.


I forsee a long winter ahead.

 

You forgot the part where the Hamilton haters will drone on about much of a berk he is outside of the car...

 

My mistake. Hamilton is a complete cockwomble outside of the car.

 

A predictable outcome given the Mercedes superiority and reliability. Rosberg will be a much more an urbane establishment champion. He is already on the way, interviewing in several languages and being happier than in ages. Hamilton on the other hand being obviously grumpy as hell and a most ungracious dude to boot .

Next season? Well neither of them is stupid and both will not be willing to take a leap over to another car until the Mercedes is caught. So it will be more of the same and a real danger for Hamilton that, with renewed confidence, Rosberg and he are more equal than hitherto on the track. There is a possibility that Hamilton will implode, crash and burn. But there again this is an opportunity for him to mature in adversity. We shall see.

My dream is that they are both forced to drive elsewhere and, taking that fantasy (Fan tasy?!) further, that the top drivers are forced to play musical chairs so they all get several rides in each car so that the drivers' and constructors' championships are effectively de-coupled and so we can really see who are the best drivers in all conditions and on any machinery.

Hamilton's tactics, sort of race track rope a dope, were not bought in to by the other drivers, who had no incentive to bust a gut to take the championship away from Rosberg by attempting a pass in the dying laps. Maybe they didn't love or hate either of them enough to take the risk. Poor show by Hamilton.