The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be the sixth time that Lewis Hamilton enters the final race of the season in a shoot-out to be crowned champion. Hamilton has been involved in title deciders against Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa, Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber and Nico Rosberg during his 15 years in Formula One. Championship order going into the race – Hamilton 107, Alonso 103, Raikkonen 100. Final championship order – Raikkonen 110, Hamilton 109, Alonso 109. Going into the penultimate race of the season in China, Hamilton had a 12 point lead over Alonso and 17 points over the Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen. Going into Brazil all focus was on the battle between Hamilton and Alonso for the championship, with very few giving Raikkonen any hope of clinching his first title. Pre-race championship order – Hamilton 94, Massa 87. Hamilton had learned a lot from his desperate driving at the start of the 2007 Brazilian GP and drove a conservative race knowing he needed just a fifth place finish. Hamilton had two laps left to work his way back into championship contention. Pre-race championship order – Alonso 246, Webber 238, Vettel 231, Hamilton 222. Final championship order – Vettel 256, Alonso 252, Webber 242, Hamilton 240. Pre-race championship order – Hamilton 334, Rosberg 317. Final championship order – Hamilton 384, Rosberg 317. In normal circumstances, Hamilton would have needed just a sixth place finish to win the 2014 championship. Pre-race championship order – Rosberg 367, Hamilton 355. Final championship order – Rosberg 385, Hamilton 380. Ironically, Hamilton’s best hope of winning the 2016 championship was the Red Bull of Verstappen. Pre-race championship order – Verstappen 369.5 points, Hamilton 369.5 points.

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