Lewis Hamilton has stoked the fires ahead of his title showdown with Nico Rosberg in Abu Dhabi by insisting he is the superior Mercedes driver. The Silver Arrows duo have been slugging it out all year to claim the Drivers’ Championship, both winning nine races apiece.
However, it is Rosberg in pole position to clinch the world title at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the German sitting 12 points ahead of Hamilton and needing just a third-place finish to snatch his team-mate’s crown.
Rosberg is therefore 1/5 to win the world title, while Hamilton is 10/3 to retain his championship.
The Brit admits the deck is firmly stacked against him when it comes to retaining his Drivers’ title but has not given up hope yet, especially after winning the last three races.
The 31-year-old drove brilliantly to take the chequered flag at last weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix in wet conditions and felt Rosberg “had nothing on him” when comparing their performances at Interlagos.
Hamilton has now tried to put the pressure on Rosberg by suggesting that even though he is currently driving at his peak, he remains no match for the three-time champion.
“I am happy that with the same car I beat Nico — and Nico is driving at his best right now but today he had nothing on me,” he said.
“Nico is doing all he has to do, which is finish every race and not have any problems.
“I am in an awkward position going into the last race, it doesn’t make a big difference if I drive like I do now because I have already lost so much earlier in the year. But I won’t give up because you never know what could happen.”
Rosberg won in Abu Dhabi last year and is 9/4 to clinch his first world title in style by repeating that trick. Hamilton is a two-time winner at the Yas Marina circuit and is 8/13to add a third chequered flag.
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Source: Bet365