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Double-points champion won't care - Wolff

ESPN Staff
July 23, 2014 « Boullier: Magnussen '100% blameless' for Massa crash | Toto Wolff injured in bike crash »
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Toto Wolff does not think Nico Rosberg or Lewis Hamilton will care if they win the title because of the controversial double points rule, but insists he still does not think the format is fair.

The title fight between the Mercedes team-mates has swung back and forth all season and looks set to go all the way to the wire in November's Abu Dhabi finale. There has been much controversy about the decision to award double points to that race but Wolff does not believe a championship will mean any less to his drivers if they were to rely on that rule change to win the 2014 title.

"No, I think they will not care," Wolff said. "I think the one that loses the title because of double points would need some psychological treatment! But we are not yet there."

Given how close the title fight is, Wolff thinks it would be very surprising if the title was wrapped up by any driver before Abu Dhabi.

"I think retirements are going to play a crucial role, but the racing between the two is so close that I would be very surprised if it doesn't come down to Abu Dhabi and the double points. Even if you are behind by 30 points, you could turn it around in Abu Dhabi if the leading guy retires. Maybe Bernie was right having double points to keep the championship open to the last race."

The format could well create a lopsided end to the championship; theoretically Hamilton - currently 14 points down in the title fight - could win each of the next eight races with Rosberg second, but still lose the title if he were to hit trouble in the double-weighted finale. Wolff admits it is still not a change of rules he is comfortable with.

"I don't think it's fair and I don't think we should have done it, but the reason was that the commercial rights holder said that we needed to keep the excitement to the end, until the last race, and it looks like he was right. The last race could be the decisive one and I'd be very much surprised if the audience wasn't up on what it would normally be."

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