Championship will be lost by DNFs

The 2016 Formula One World Championship will be lost by the number of ‘Did Not Finish’ placings either Lewis Hamilton or Nico Rosberg will get.

That is the opinion of Mercedes Formula One boss Toto Wolff, the man charged with controlling the duelling team-mates of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

The first ten races of the season saw the championship swing in dramatic fashion, with Nico Rosberg pulling out a 43 point lead over Lewis Hamilton, only for the three-time Formula One World Champion to claw it back to 1 single point.

Then the Hungarian Grand Prix, race 11 of a 21 race season, saw Hamilton win and take the lead for the first time this season in the standings.

That lead is just 6 points, with 10 races remaining.

‘I think at that stage, it is important to finish the task, be capable of winning the race or being solidly on the podium. It is about avoiding mistakes, as DNFs is what can cost you the championship. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff told motorsport.com.

‘My feeling is that the championship is going to go to the end.’

The last and only DNF for both drivers came at the Spanish Grand Prix.

With the two drivers battling for the lead, Hamilton got alongside Rosberg and the German ran Hamilton out of road and on to the grass, Hamilton lost control and collected Rosberg with the two ending their race on the first lap in the gravel trap.

Since that race, the momentum has shifted with 5 wins in 6 for Hamilton.

On Hamilton’s recent sensational form Wolff added: ‘It is just six races ? I don’t think that one can see a pattern in there,’

‘there is no single event I could attribute to a change of performance.’

Despite Hamilton’s slender lead, many people in the paddock still back Rosberg to clinch the 2016 Formula One World Championship as Hamilton is hampered by the knowledge that he will take at least one severe grid penalty due to engine regulations.