Lewis Hamilton is aiming to finish off his championship-winning season with a victory in Formula One’s season-ending grand prix this weekend, and with the streets of Abu Dhabi festooned with the British driver’s No.44, such an outcome seems predestined. Before the race even reached midway Rosberg started to report problems with his Mercedes, complaining of a loss of power, which left him powerless to stop Felipe Massa passing through to claim second place on Lap 27. I just have to go quick in the corners.?
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Away from the track, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner confirmed his team would remain on the Formula One grid next year after agreeing an engine deal. “I’m looking forward to it and I definitely want to win this race and give the boys in the garage a reason to celebrate at the end of the season”.
Finn Kimi Raikkonen was third for Ferrari ahead of Russian Daniil Kvayt of Red Bull, four-time champion German Sebastian Vettel in the second Ferrari and compatriot Nico Hulkenberg of Force India.
“I’m here to win in that 44th race, which I still haven’t done, so it’s rad how it all kind of ties in”, Hamilton stated Thurs.
Hamilton had complained during the first practice session about the handling of the vehicle, and although some adjustments improved its performance in the evening session, he believed there was room for further improvement ahead of qualifying.
The two Mercedes were well clear of the rest of the field, headed by Force India’s Sergio Perez, 0.627secs back.
“So, today is not the real picture”.
“I am ahead now, lately I have been quicker”, Rosberg said.
The struggling Lotus team are expected to be taken over by Renault for next season, but Renault have yet to make any definitive statement on their plans for next year.
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Speaking to Sky Sports, Horner said: “We’ve entered the world championship, we’ve signed a contract for an engine, but I can’t tell you what it’ll be or called at the moment”. Indeed, showing favouritism towards one driver runs the risk of creating another Vettel-Mark Webber situation, causing a fissure within the team, and it’s an approach that would disrupt the delicate balance that Mercedes have worked so hard to maintain for the last three years.
