How Hamilton and Rosberg’s title duel arrived at Abu Dhabi climax – in pictures

Malaysian Grand Prix, March 30. A pole-to-flag win for Hamilton. Rosberg was second, after starting third, in a first one-two for Mercedes since they returned to Formula One as a works team in 2010. Points: Rosberg 43, Hamilton 25. (Photo: Ed Jones / AFP)

Bahrain Grand Prix, April6. Second win in a row for Hamilton after a thrilling floodlit duel. The Briton pulled level with the late Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio in the all-time win lists with 24. Rosberg, who started on pole, produced the team’s second successive one-two. Points: Rosberg 61, Hamilton 50. (Photo: Marwan Naamani / AFP)

Chinese Grand Prix, April 20. Hamilton chalked up his first hat-trick of wins and led a third one-two in a row for Mercedes. The Briton, who started on pole, drew level with the late Jim Clark and triple champion Niki Lauda in the all-time win lists. Points: Rosberg 79, Hamilton 75. (Photo: Clive Mason / Getty Images)

Spanish Grand Prix, May 11. Hamilton, from pole, took the overall lead with his fourth win in a row and fourth successive one-two for the team. He finished a mere 0.6 of a second ahead of Rosberg.Points: Hamilton 100, Rosberg 97. (Photo: Paul Gilham / Getty Images)

Monaco Grand Prix, May 25. Rosberg ended Hamilton’s run to take back the overall lead, winning Monaco for the second year in a row. He started from a controversial pole position that had ratcheted up the tension with Hamilton, who finished second. Relations between the two boyhood friends were at their frostiest. Points: Rosberg 122, Hamilton 118. (Photo: Boris Horvat / AFP)

Canadian Grand Prix, June 8. The winning run ended for Mercedes with Australian Daniel Ricciardo taking his first career win for Red Bull. Rosberg started on pole, but finished second, while Hamilton retired with a rear brake problem. Points: Rosberg 140, Hamilton 118. (Photo: Chris Wattie / Reuters)

Austrian Grand Prix, June 22. Mercedes bounced back with another one-two and Rosberg’s third win of the season. For once, a Mercedes was not on pole with Brazilian Felipe Massa qualifying fastest for Williams. Points: Rosberg 165, Hamilton 136. (Photo: Mark Thompson / Getty Images)

British Grand Prix, July 6. Hamilton won at home after Rosberg suffered his first retirement of the season, due to a gearbox problem after 20 of 52 laps, in a race red-flagged at the start. Rosberg started on pole with Hamilton sixth on the grid after a qualifying blunder. Points: Rosberg 165, Hamilton 161 (Photo: Mark Thompson / Getty Images)

German Grand Prix, July 20. Newly-married Rosberg won his home race, leading from pole to chequered flag. Hamilton clawed his way back to third after starting in 20th place due to a brake disc failure. Points: Rosberg 190, Hamilton 176. (Photo: David Ebener / EPA)

Hungarian Grand Prix, July 27. Ricciardo celebrated his second win but Hamilton produced a storming drive from a pitlane start, after his car caught fire in qualifying, to third place. Rosberg, on pole, was fourth. Points: Rosberg 202, Hamilton 191. (Photo: Lars Baron / Getty Images)

Belgian Grand Prix, August 24. Ricciardo wins again after the Mercedes teammates collided on the second lap. Hamilton, who accused Rosberg of running into him deliberately, retired with a damaged car while the German finished second and was booed on the podium. Points: Rosberg 220, Hamilton 191. (Photo: Yves Herman / Reuters)

Italian Grand Prix, September 7. The start of a run of five wins in a row for Hamilton, whose teammate cracked under pressure while leading and finished second. The one-two was the seventh in 13 races for Mercedes. Points: Rosberg 238, Hamilton 216. (Photo: Bryn Lennon / Getty Images)

Singapore Grand Prix, September 21. An emphatic win for Hamilton, from pole, while Rosberg retired with steering wheel problems on lap 14 after being forced to start from the pit lane. Points: Hamilton 241, Rosberg 238. (Photo: Xavier Galiana / Reuters

Japanese Grand Prix, October 5. Hamilton won a race that started behind the safety car and was overshadowed by an accident that left French driver Jules Bianchi fighting for his life. Rosberg started on pole, was overtaken by Hamilton and finished second. Points: Hamilton 266, Rosberg 256. (Photo: Toru Hanai / Reuters)

Russian Grand Prix, October 12. Hamilton won from pole as Mercedes clinched the constructors’ title with another one-two. Rosberg locked up at the first corner and damaged his tyres in a costly error, but made a fine recovery drive from 20th place. Points: Hamilton 291, Rosberg 274. (Photo: Pavel Golovkin / AP)

United States Grand Prix, November 2. Hamilton took his 10th win of the season while Mercedes equalled the record for one-two finishes. Rosberg led from pole but Hamilton grabbed his chance and passed when the German went wide on the 24th of the 56 laps. Points: Hamilton 316, Rosberg 292. (Photo: Mark Ralston / AFP)

Brazilian Grand Prix, November 9. Rosberg, on pole after being fastest in every practice session, ended Hamilton’s run of five wins in a row with his fifth of the season in a record 11th one-two for Mercedes. Hamilton finished 1.4 seconds behind. Points: Hamilton 334, Rosberg 317. (Photo: Dan Istitene / Getty Images)

Images from the 18 Formula One races that preceded Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which will determine the champion for the 2014 F1 season. Text by Reuters.

AUSTRALIA

Rosberg won the first race of the new V6 turbo era. Hamilton started on pole but retired on the third lap with a misfiring cylinder.

Points: Rosberg 25, Hamilton 0

MALAYSIA

A pole-to-flag win for Hamilton. Rosberg was second, after starting third, in a first one-two for Mercedes since they returned to Formula One as a works team in 2010.

Points: Rosberg 43, Hamilton 25

BAHRAIN

Second win in a row for Hamilton after a thrilling floodlit duel. The Briton pulled level with the late Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio in the all-time win lists with 24. Rosberg, who started on pole, produced the team’s second successive one-two.

Points: Rosberg 61, Hamilton 50

CHINA

Hamilton chalked up his first hat-trick of wins and led a third one-two in a row for Mercedes. The Briton, who started on pole, drew level with the late Jim Clark and triple champion Niki Lauda in the all-time win lists.

Points: Rosberg 79, Hamilton 75

SPAIN

Hamilton, from pole, took the overall lead with his fourth win in a row and fourth successive one-two for the team. The Briton finished a mere 0.6 of a second ahead of Rosberg.

Points: Hamilton 100, Rosberg 97

MONACO

Rosberg ended Hamilton’s run to take back the overall lead, winning Monaco for the second year in a row. He started from a controversial pole position that had ratcheted up the tension with Hamilton, who finished second. Relations between the two boyhood friends were at their frostiest.

Points: Rosberg 122, Hamilton 118

CANADA

The winning run ended for Mercedes with Australian Daniel Ricciardo taking his first career win for Red Bull. Rosberg started on pole, but finished second, while Hamilton retired with a rear brake problem.

Points: Rosberg 140, Hamilton 118

AUSTRIA

Mercedes bounced back with another one-two and Rosberg’s third win of the season. For once, a Mercedes was not on pole with Brazilian Felipe Massa qualifying fastest for Williams.

Points: Rosberg 165, Hamilton 136

BRITAIN

Hamilton won at home after Rosberg suffered his first retirement of the season, due to a gearbox problem after 20 of 52 laps, in a race red-flagged at the start. Rosberg started on pole with Hamilton sixth on the grid after a qualifying blunder.

Points: Rosberg 165, Hamilton 161

GERMANY

Newly-married Rosberg won his home race, leading from pole to chequered flag. Hamilton clawed his way back to third after starting in 20th place due to a brake disc failure.

Points: Rosberg 190, Hamilton 176

HUNGARY

Ricciardo celebrated his second win but Hamilton produced a storming drive from a pitlane start, after his car caught fire in qualifying, to third place. Rosberg, on pole, was fourth.

Points: Rosberg 202, Hamilton 191

BELGIUM

Ricciardo wins again after the Mercedes team mates collided on the second lap. Hamilton, who accused Rosberg of running into him deliberately, retired with a damaged car while the German finished second and was booed on the podium.

Points: Rosberg 220, Hamilton 191

ITALY

The start of a run of five wins in a row for Hamilton, whose team mate cracked under pressure while leading and finished second. The one-two was the seventh in 13 races for Mercedes.

Points: Rosberg 238, Hamilton 216

SINGAPORE

An emphatic win for Hamilton, from pole, while Rosberg retired with steering wheel problems on lap 14 after being forced to start from the pit lane.

Points: Hamilton 241, Rosberg 238

JAPAN

Hamilton won a race that started behind the safety car and was overshadowed by an accident that left French driver Jules Bianchi fighting for his life. Rosberg started on pole, was overtaken by Hamilton and finished second.

Points: Hamilton 266, Rosberg 256

RUSSIA

Hamilton won from pole as Mercedes clinched the constructors’ title with another one-two. Rosberg locked up at the first corner and damaged his tyres in a costly error, but made a fine recovery drive from 20th place.

Points: Hamilton 291, Rosberg 274

UNITED STATES

Hamilton took his 10th win of the season while Mercedes equalled the record for one-two finishes. Rosberg led from pole but Hamilton grabbed his chance and passed when the German went wide on the 24th of the 56 laps.

Points: Hamilton 316, Rosberg 292

BRAZIL

Rosberg, on pole after being fastest in every practice session, ended Hamilton’s run of five wins in a row with his fifth of the season in a record 11th one-two for Mercedes. Hamilton finished 1.4 seconds behind.

Points: Hamilton 334, Rosberg 317