Double points could overshadow season for Wolff

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has already seen his team claim the constructors championship.

And following the race in the United States of America, he also knows that one of his drivers is guaranteed to win the 2014 Formula One World Drivers Championship.

Red Bull Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo was the only mathematical challenger remaining, but even with the double points system for the season finale in Abu Dhabi. He can no longer mount a challenge.

That leaves Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton as the only drivers who can still be crowned World Champion.

The title will only be decided in Abu Dhabi, due to the heavily skewed points system for the final race.

In Brazil and all of the previous 17 races, the points system has been as follows: 25 points for the winner, 18 points for the runner-up, 15 points for third, 12 for fourth, 10 for fifth, 8 for sixth, 6 for seventh, 4 for eighth, 2 for ninth and 1 for tenth.

But in Abu Dhabi the points will be: 50 points for the winner, 36 points for the runner-up, 30 points for third, 24 for fourth, 20 for fifth, 16 for sixth, 12 for seventh, 8 for eighth, 4 for ninth and 2 for tenth.

This opens up a wide range of possible scenario’s that could decide the title.

Hamilton goes into the Brazilian Grand Prix with a 24-point lead over Rosberg.

If Hamilton wins in Brazil, the points difference could be a minimum of 31 points or a maximum of 49 points.

That means that there is a chance that Rosberg could take the title without him adding to his four race victories this season.

Back-to-back second place finishes for Rosberg, even with Hamilton winning an eleventh race of the season in Brazil would still be enough if Hamilton was to retire in Abu Dhabi.

Even the worst case scenario for Rosberg in Brazil would still leave him with a chance of clinching the title. Hamilton could win in Brazil, with Rosberg failing to score a point and the championship lead would only extend to 49-points.

In that scenario, if the tables turned and Hamilton then suffered a retirement and Rosberg won the Grand Prix, Rosberg would be champion.

With Mercedes reliability issues throughout the season, that is a very real possibility and something that even the Mercedes team boss feels would ruin the season.

‘The last race with double points has the potential to overshadow the season,’ Wolff said to the BBC.

‘We know why the double points came – and it made all the sense in the world to make it spectacular for the viewers – but now we’re in a situation where it could change the outcome.’