Even thought he doesn't need to win to secure the title, Lewis Hamilton will have an eye on the top step of the rostrum. And he can take comfort from the fact this race has only been won once from pole position in five runnings of the event. Plus, title rival and Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg has only converted three of his 10 pole positions this season into race wins.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Abu Dhabi

"Hamilton or Rosberg - one of them will be world champion at the end of this race and the other will be bereft. One suspects that if Hamilton is the one who loses out, he will take it worse - 'Toto (Wolff) and his boys better run for the hills in that case,' Mark Webber said - and the prevailing opinion in the paddock is that, while Rosberg has undoubtedly driven a superb season, the Englishman would be the more deserving champion. But justice is not always served in these situations.

"The anticipation is high - along with the awareness that anything could happen. Rosberg has been turning the screw on Hamilton all weekend, with little jibes in public, whether it be about the need to drive cleanly or claiming that Hamilton is the one under more pressure. Rosberg has the most to lose in the event of any collision between the two, and while Hamilton wants to win the title in style by winning the race, he says he will not be taking any 'stupid risks'. Heart rates will be that bit higher than normal all over as start time approaches.'"

Image source, PA

Immediately after qualifying, the mind games began with Nico Rosberg saying the pressure was all on Lewis Hamilton.

"Lewis has everything to lose and I have everything to gain," said the German. Hamilton, though, was having none of it and hit back saying he does not "pay much attention" to Rosberg's comments.

Image source, Reuters

Nico Rosberg's objective this weekend is simple. Trailing team-mate and title rival Lewis Hamilton by 17 points in the title race, he needs to win. Then he must hope that Hamilton finishes third or lower.

A big ask, considering the advantage Mercedes have had over the field this season - but not impossible, as we have seen many times over the years in tense title deciders.

The German did what he had to do on Saturday, taking his 11th pole position of the season, as Hamilton ended up second after a qualifying session littered with mistakes.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Abu Dhabi

"What a weekend this has already been to round off the Formula 1 season. The tension has been palpable and the atmosphere electric at Yas Marina, with the title fight between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg coming to a climax. But off the track things have been just as intriguing.

"Following the long-anticipated Ferrari announcements on Thursday that Fernando Alonso is leaving and Sebastian Vettel arriving, it seems team boss Marco Mattiacci may be about to follow Alonso out of the door. And there was high drama after qualifying when both Red Bulls were excluded for having overly flexible front wings. Daniel Ricciardo and Vettel, who qualified fifth and sixth, will start from the back of the grid."

Image source, EPA

Welcome to the desert. Welcome to the spectacular Yas Marina Circuit. Welcome to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - the final race of what has been a quite extraordinary season.

We've had wheel-to-wheel battles and tantrums, stunning victories and majestic pole positions, we've had rising stars make a name for themselves while others have struggled to deliver.

And there have been selfies and, banter over team radio and who the rise of the celebrity podium interviewer. Can Abu Dhabi give 2014 the perfect sign-off?

Image source, lewishamilton.com

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg are childhood friends. They were team-mates in go-karting aged 14. They roomed together, played football together, even raced each other eating pizza.

Fourteen years later, they found themselves in the same team and fighting a two-way battle for the championship. As the season has gone on, the pair's relationship has grown tense, with a number of battles both on and off the track.

After they clashed in Belgium, Hamilton said: "Spa was like, 'I'm going to turn this up. I'm going to have to turn this up. This means war', that kind of feeling."

This is it. The final battle in what has been an intensely fought war. Only one man can win. Hamilton and Rosberg: The floor is yours.