Hamilton rules out 'back up' bidposted in F125 | 11 | 2016

    LEWIS HAMILTON HEADS in to the season finale at Abu Dhabi knowing he has to win the race, and hope his rival and Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg finishes no higher than fourth, if he is to pip the German for the F1 world title.

    And Hamilton has rejected the suggestion from Red Bull team principal Christian Horner's that he should try to delay Rosberg in the decider and back him into the pack.

    Earlier this week, Horner said he thought it would be "smart" of Hamilton to back Rosberg towards the rest of the back and hope the likes of the Red Bull drivers got between the two Mercedes.
Three-time world champ Hamilton though doubts this would achieve anything and says he would rather try to gain a psychological edge by dominating.

    "That has never been my thought process," he said, referring to Horner's recommendation. “If I’m out ahead, I want to be as far ahead as possible.

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    "When you have an 18-30second lead, that is as painful a blow as you can give to the guy you are fighting.

    "If you look at the last race, with no red flag I would be 30s ahead. That is more of an achievement than backing up your team-mate.

    "While it sounds like it makes sense, it is not very practical to do; you have two long DRS zones, so it wouldn't be easy or wise to do so."

    Rosberg meanwhile, doesn’t expect the event's title-decider status to make any difference to how he and Hamilton race each other.

    "It will be a weekend like any other where I am going to go for the race win and will do what it takes to get that,” Rosberg, bidding to win his first F1 title 34 years after his dad, Keke, lifted the crown, said, “and that’s it.”

    Significantly, he also went on to stress that he would drive "within the limits of what is acceptable" when racing Hamilton. We’re certainly in for one heck of a showdown on Sunday.

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    Jim McGill

     

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