Formula One: Rosberg and Hamilton set for an Abu Dhabi duel

Will Nico Rosberg become only the second son of a world champion to claim the title for his own? Or will Lewis Hamilton do something his idol Ayrton Senna never could, and win a third straight championship? Come Sunday evening, we will have our answer.

The sparring Mercedes duo head into the final round of the 2016 campaign with Rosberg ahead by 12 points.

Hamilton is the man in form however, comfortably defeating his rival to win each of the last three races.

But unfortunately for the 31-year-old, the Mercedes dominance which has brought him such success may be the reason he misses out this year.

Neither Red Bull nor Ferrari have been able to get close to the Silver Arrows duo on Sundays, and a win would ensure the German giants complete their most dominant season yet.

Rosberg need only finish on the podium in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, and having achieved that 15 times this year, including all of the last eight events, it’s little wonder the German is odds on at 1/5 to become world champion this weekend.

Hamilton is the 10/3 outsider to win a fourth world championship, but the Englishman has revelled in being the underdog in recent weeks.

His form makes him the 8/13 favourite for this weekend’s race in the Middle East, with Rosberg 9/4.

The Brit knows that if he wins, he still needs two cars to come between him and his title rival, and although that situation has already happened in both Canada and Germany this year, it seems unlikely to occur again.

A whole host of permutations are ready play out should Lewis not win but still finish substantially ahead of Rosberg.

Formula One is no stranger to surprises.

The sport is littered with last gasp twists, including Lewis’ memorable moment in Brazil in 2008.

Abu Dhabi itself has been the venue for two title deciders. Sebastian Vettel stole the championship from Fernando Alonso in 2010, while Rosberg’s slim hopes evaporated through car failure in 2014.

Those incidents may offer Hamilton a glimmer of hope, but he himself has said he faces ‘pretty impossible odds’ this weekend.

Not quite impossible, Lewis, but 10/3 means you’re going to need a little bit of luck this weekend.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing