Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2016: Lewis Hamilton accepts his Mission Impossible to beat Nico Rosberg to the title
The defending world champions knows the odds are stacked against him in this weekend's showdown in the desert but has promised not to surrender his crown without a fight
LEWIS HAMILTON has decided to accept Mission Impossible in this weekend's Formula One showdown.
The defending world champion is 12 points behind enemy Nico Rosberg going into the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi.
It means the German needs to finish in the top three, irrespective of Hamilton's result, to clinch his first world title.
Hamilton, 31, admits he now faces a mammoth task in stopping his Mercedes teammate but has promised not to surrender his crown without a fight.
He said: "It's not been a perfect season and I'm faced with pretty impossible odds no matter what I do this weekend. But I can't and won't give up. You never know what might happen - however unlikely it may seem.
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"I'll be proud of myself and what I've achieved as long as I feel I've given my all and performed at my best. And, whatever happens, I'm proud of everyone who's been a part of the success we've shared over the past few years.
"I'm approaching this weekend the same as I do every race. I want to win and I'll give it everything to finish the season on a high."
Cautious Rosberg has been playing it safe all season insisting he is taking it "one race at a time" as he refuses to get carried away by thoughts of his first title over Hamilton.
The motto is wearing thin, especially given the Duel in the Desert is the final race of F1's longest-ever season, yet he is sticking by it.
He added: "In Brazil, after the race, I was joking that I would still be taking things one race at a time. But, the more I think about it, the more that's actually not as crazy as it sounds. I have to treat this like any other race.
"Nothing in this sport is easy, so this won't be any different and I still have to go all out for a good result."
The race in Abu Dhabi promises to the last F1 race for Jenson Button, who is taking a break from the sport at the end of this season.
The 36-year-old plans to celebrate his career in style at the chequered flag by heading straight to the VIP Amber Lounge party, but admits he will be feeling emotional.
He said: "This race marks a very special chapter in my life and I'll have my friends and some of my family out in Abu Dhabi with me which I'm very excited about.
"It's going to be a hugely emotional weekend and I hope with the support of the fans, the team and the people that are closest to me, we can go out there and give it our absolute maximum and enjoy the weekend.
"This race marks the culmination of a huge amount of hard work, dedication and passion for the sport that I love and I'm immensely proud of everything I've achieved in the past 17 seasons."
Meanwhile, Malaysia will not extend its Formula One contract when its current deal expires in 2018 due to falling attendances and the whopping £55million cost to host the race.
Malaysia's Tourism and Culture Minister, Nazri Abdul Aziz, said: "The current agreement is from 2016 to 2018. So once that ends, there will be no more.
"F1 attendance is dropping and there is less attraction now. We are spending RM300 million a year [£55million]."
