Hamilton kept alive his quest for a third straight Drivers’ Championship with a superb performance at a rain-soaked Interlagos on Sunday, cutting the gap between himself and Rosberg in the championship standings to just 12 points with one race to go.
“I was generally just chilling up front,” Hamilton told reporters afterwards. “When it rains it's usually a good day for me.
“It was tricky for everyone - there were definitely opportunities for aquaplaning, which everyone did. No mistakes, no issues, no spins. It was kind of interesting to hear how many people were spinning, but I didn't have that problem.”
Rosberg limited the damage as best he could, finishing second, but the result of the Brazilian Grand Prix means the Drivers’ Championship will still be up for grabs when the teams head to Abu Dhabi for the season finale.
For Hamilton to be crowned world champion he must win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and hope that Rosberg fails to register a podium finish.
If Rosberg finishes in the top three there is nothing Hamilton can do, and for that reason it is no surprise to see the German ace still heading the outright betting after the penultimate race of the 2016 season.
Hamilton is the 8/13 favourite to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with
William Hill, but the bookmaker doubts his chances of securing a fourth world title in the process.
Hamilton is 10/3 to win the Championship this Sunday, with Rosberg 2/9.
“Lewis is the favourite to win the Abu Dhabi crown,” William Hill spokesman Joe Crilly told Bettingpro.com. “However, he needs some divine intervention in order to win the Drivers’ Championship with Rosberg the red-hot favourite to get the job done.”
Latest William Hill Odds:
Fastest qualifier: 4/7 Lewis Hamilton; 7/4 Nico Rosberg; 18/1 Daniel Ricciardo; 18/1 Max Verstappen; 20/1 Sebastian Vettel; 25/1 Kimi Raikkonen; 250/1 BAR
Race winner: 8/13 Lewis Hamilton; 5/2 Nico Rosberg; 12/1 Max Verstappen; 14/1 Daniel Ricciardo; 18/1 Sebastian Vettel; 33/1 Kimi Raikkonen; 250/1 BAR
Drivers’ Championship: 2/9 Nico Rosberg; 10/3 Lewis Hamilton