Despite the controversy surrounding this season and its politics, we have seen some of the best racing in years in 2014. The F1 community have also been treated to a fantastic rivalry between the Silver Arrows team mates.
From the off there was controversy at the Mercedes camp, in Australia Lewis Hamilton took the season opening pole position but retired just two laps after the lights went out in Melbourne handing the first win of the season to his team mate Nico Rosberg.
Hamilton took the next four wins at Malaysia, Bahrain, China and Spain which saw the Brit climb to the top of the Drivers’ Championship for the first time. It was the Sakhir track that saw one of the greatest on track battles in modern F1, with the two Mercedes cars trading places throughout the 900th championship race, making round three of 2014 an instant classic.
After Lewis’ four win streak, he suffered three notable defeats at Monaco, Canada – where he retired due to his aggressive brake use – and Austria setting him back once again in the title fight. A win at Silverstone and Nico’s retirement brought Hamilton back into the championship just four points behind Rosberg.
In the next three races the Brit lost momentum, with qualifying setbacks at both Hockenheim and the Hungaroring, but spirited recovery drives saw Lewis achieve two podium finishes from 16th and the pit lane. Spa-Francorchamps was the scene for the title fight to reach boiling point, Rosberg clipped Hamilton’s rear left tyre at Les Combes effectively ending the Brit’s race while the German went on to finish second.
After the Belgian Grand Prix Lewis was unstoppable winning five races in a row at Monza, Singapore, Suzuka, Sochi and Texas. Nico made an uncharacteristic mistake at Monza forcing him to cut the chicane giving his team mate the lead and eventual race win. A retirement at Singapore for the German and simply being outraced at Suzuka, Sochi and Texas meant he fell back to 24 points behind in the championship.
Although Rosberg has dominated qualifying this year, his team mate has out raced him on most occasions in an on track battle this season. But, at Interlagos – the penultimate round of the championship – despite Lewis having better race pace, Nico took pole position and the win gaining back some of the moment he had lost in recent races.
There will be more on this in an article published tomorrow on Last Word On Sports.
Mercedes Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Preview
During the podium interviews after the Brazilian GP Nico Rosberg said
“He’s the man, I need some Felipe Massa help.”
Referring to the Williams driver and his impressive performances in the latter half of the season, implying he could be the man to hinder Hamilton and help Rosberg to the title. Unfortunately for the German, Massa responded the day after the race
“I’m not helping anyone, I told him I want to win the race, and not to help you!'”
The Yas Marina Circuit hosts the last race of the year and is set to be a great showdown between the Silver Arrows drivers, Rosberg will be mentally strong ahead of this race as he out qualified and out raced Hamilton here last year. However the Brit was victorious at this track in 2011 and may have won the 2009 and 2012 races if it wasn’t for unreliability.
Heading to the final round of the 2014 season, Hamilton looks to have one hand on the championship with a 17 point lead, but it is still all to play for thanks to the double points system. Nico will need some luck to take this title as Lewis has to finish third or lower, however, as this year’s racing has emphasised, anything can and will happen in Formula 1 so nothing is certain until the final flag falls in Abu Dhabi.
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