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21 Sport maltatoday, TUESDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 2014 FORMULA 1 MOTOGP McLaren boosted by Brazil result - Button JENSON Button says McLaren en- ters this weekend's Abu Dhabi sea- son finale with fresh hope follow- ing his fourth-place finish in the Brazilian Grand Prix. Button was beaten only by the Mercedes pair and Williams driver Felipe Massa at Interlagos, missing out on a podium finish by less than eight seconds. The 2009 World Champion is de- termined to end the campaign with another strong result as a reward for the team's relentless develop- ment efforts. "The result at Interlagos was a great boost for the team," he said. "It was the culmination of a lot of hard work by the guys and girls back at the factory and a consistent push to develop the car right up un- til the last race. "I managed the tyres as well as I could and it paid off, so we'll be aiming for more of the same in Abu Dhabi. Tyre wear isn't quite so cru- cial because the race takes place at dusk as the temperature is drop- ping. "It should be an exciting race, as everyone will be pushing to finish 2014 on a high. "Our ambition is to fight hard but fair as always, and get the re- sult that is deserving of all the hard work everyone has put in to increase our performance through- out the year." Rookie team-mate Kevin Magnus- sen has never raced in Abu Dhabi before, but is hoping to draw on his experience at the Young Driver Test two years ago. "It's great to finish this season by going back to a place with such good memories," said Magnussen. "Jenson's result in the last race in Brazil was really positive for the whole team, and shows that our car's performance is definitely im- proving. "For me personally it was a tough weekend as the car definitely had potential, but we didn't manage to get the most out of it on my side of the garage, so that's something we'll really be focusing on in Abu Dhabi." McLaren is yet to confirm if it will retain Button or Magnussen for the 2015 season. Hamilton 'ready to win' Lewis Hamilton has declared "I'm ready to win" as he prepares for the deciding bout in his season-long title duel with Nico Rosberg this weekend. HAMILTON, who has held the championship lead since victory in September's Singapore GP, is the undoubted title favourite for Sunday's Abu Dhabi GP showdown given he holds a 17-point champi- onship lead. The 29-year-old will clinch his second world title if he finishes at least second in the race. Although Hamilton, unlike Ros- berg, has past experiences of F1 ti- tle deciders – the Briton triumphed in 2008 and was also involved at the final race in both 2007 and 2010 – he has again played down talk that this gives him any signifi- cant advantage. Hamilton has also reiterated that he will race to win this weekend. "People talk about how long it's been since I won the title - but I honestly feel like I'm fighting for my first World Championship all over again," Hamilton insisted. "Sure, I'm older and maybe a lit- tle bit wiser than I was back then. I've learnt a lot in the years since 2008 - but I'm still the same driver. I still have the same hunger, the same will to win, and I've been giv- ing it everything I've got from the word go this season. I've had ups and downs along the way - but I've never once given up. "I've managed to fight my way back from whatever has come my way and my approach doesn't change for this race." Hamilton's candidature to close out the title in Abu Dhabi is bol- stered by his enviable record around the futuristic Yas Marina circuit, although the Briton is also quick to point out he lost a near- certain victory there for McLaren in 2012 through unreliability. He hopes technical matters don't in- tervene on Sunday to settle his duel with Rosberg. "Last year was actually the only time I've not started on the front row or finished on the podium," Hamilton added. "But I've also had some misfor- tune there over the years - par- ticularly in 2012. I'm hoping that bad luck won't play a part this time around and I know that the team has been working f lat out to make sure it doesn't. I'm feeling relaxed, I'm feeling confident and I'm ready to win." While Rosberg ended his four- month victory drought last time out to beat Hamilton to victory in Brazil, the German knows his ti- tle destiny is not in his own hands given even a double-point victory on Sunday will not be enough for the crown if the sister Mercedes finishes second again. Nonetheless, having already en- joyed by far the most successful season of his nine-year F1 career, Rosberg insists he still has a chance and is ready to give it everything to overhaul Hamilton at the last. "The gap is smaller than before and I absolutely believe I still have the chance to take the title in Abu Dhabi. It won't be easy, but I'll be full attack - just as I have been all season," Rosberg said. "Although this has been my first year fighting for a World Champi- onship, I've never felt more com- fortable than I have done this year. The team behind us have done an incredible job and it's great that they've given both of us equal op- portunity to compete with each other. There have been difficult moments just as there have been amazing moments - but this is what Formula 1 is all about and I hope that everyone watching at home has enjoyed the story of this battle as much as I have. "Win or lose, double points or no double points, I feel proud of what I have achieved this year and espe- cially proud to have been a part of this fantastic season for the Silver Arrows. I go into this race with no fear and with every belief that this can be my title. It's not over until that f lag drops!" Team boss Toto Wolff is simply hoping that the kind of technical problems which have struck both W05s at various points of the sea- son recur to effectively settle the championship. "It is now down to us to ensure that this fascinating year con- cludes in the right way by giving Lewis and Nico a platform to settle the title purely on the track," Wolff admitted. "It is fantastic for the sport to have such a finale in what has been one of the great seasons of Formula 1. I for one cannot wait to watch the race in Abu Dhabi and I'm sure those at home feel the same. May the best man win!" MotoGP attracts almost 2.5 million spectators 2014 race-by-race attendance: Qatar / Losail – 17,890 USA / Austin – 118,918 Argentina / Termas de Río Hondo – 125,961 Spain / Jerez – 229,416 France / LeMans – 178,073 Italy / Mugello – 111,309 Spain / Barcelona-Catalunya – 163,045 Netherlands / TT Circuit Assen – 131,000 Germany / Sachsenring – 209,408 USA / Indianapolis – 132,817 Czech Republic / Brno – 240,695 UK / Silverstone – 138,000 San Marino / Misano – 88,665 Spain / MotorLand Aragón – 112,331 Japan / Twin Ring Motegi – 70,271 Australia / Phillip Island – 77,900 Malaysia / Sepang – 130,925 Spain / Valencia – 197,000 Total – 2,473,624 MOTOGP has reported a small growth in crowd numbers over last season, with 2.47 million fans at- tending Grands Prix in 2014. The Czech Republic Grand Prix at Brno attracted the biggest crowds, pulling in 240,695 spectators over the course of the weekend, with 138,000 on race day alone. Jerez and Sachsenring were the others to exceed 200,000, while Austin, Termas de Río Hondo, Le Mans, Mugello, Catalunya, Assen, Indianapolis, Silverstone, Aragon, Sepang and Valencia surpassed 100,000. In contrast, the lowest weekend attendance was 17,890 at the Qatar Grand Prix, but this was still more than triple the number that turned up for the event 12 months ago. In total, 2,473,624 fans watched the action trackside, compared with 2,433,763 in 2013. Lewis Hamilton vs Nico Rosberg: Formula One's final day showdowns