Lewis Hamilton could be only days away from his secondFormula One world title but the Mercedes driver is wary of double trouble in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

No eye contact... Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton (left) and Nico Rosberg shake hands before the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.

British driver Lewis Hamilton leads German team-mate Nico Rosberg by 17 points going into Sunday’s season-ending ‘Duel in the Desert’, which means he does not have to win the race to take the crown even with an unprecedented double points on offer.

Second place at Yas Marina would do, even if Rosberg were to triumph, but the scoring potential and risk of a mechanical failure or race incident still cast a heavy shadow.

“There is zero comfort going into the next race because it’s 50 points to gain,” said Hamilton, who took his 2008 title with a last-gasp overtake when all seemed lost.

“In the last race you never know what is going to happen, so I’m going to the last race to win.”

Sunday’s double points could be a one-off, with even commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone now against continuing the idea he pushed through, but in other respects it should be more of the same.

Mercedes have already secured both titles and finished one-two a record 11 times this season, and are now chasing a record 16th win of the 19-race campaign.

The nightmare for the team, and particularly Hamilton who has won 10 races to Rosberg’s five, is mechanical failure.

To many fans, it would turn the championship into a travesty if he loses out that way.

“Clearly Lewis breaking down would have a massive impact on his championship attempt. And it would, for me personally, be a nightmare,” said Mercedes motorsport head Toto Wolff.

“We need to provide him with the most reliable car and we want the championship to end in a straight and fair battle and not by one of them breaking down.”

While the focus is on the title scrap between the two Mercedes rivals, whose relationship has been under the microscope all year, other battles will be fought behind them in what amounts to a last roll of the dice for some.

Red Bull are sure of second place while Williams look set to finish ahead of Ferrari for the first time since they took their last title in 1997.

For Ferrari, the sport’s most successful and glamorous team, it is the last chance to stave off their first winless season since 1993.

Sauber are also staring at their first season without a single point while Caterham, in administration and with a skeleton crew, are hoping to do enough to convince a buyer to rescue them.

The race will be quadruple champion Sebastian Vettel’s farewell to Red Bull and could also be the final appearance in Formula One of 2009 world champion Jenson Button, Hamilton’s former McLaren team-mate.

Abu Dhabi deal

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix organisers have agreed a contract extension to keep their race on the F1 calendar for years to come.

Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management did not say how long the deal was for but the previous one was not due to expire until 2016

Abu Dhabi GP stats

• Lap distance: 5.554km.

• Total distance: 305.355km (55 laps).

• Race lap record: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Red Bull one minute 40.279 seconds (2009).

• 2013 pole: Mark Webber (Australia) Red Bull.

• 2013 winner: Vettel.

• Start time: 14.00.

Title showdown
The title will be won by a Mercedes driver, with Lewis Hamilton 17 points ahead of Nico Rosberg but double points on offer. Their key statistics are as follows:

Betting odds (William Hill)
To win the race: Hamilton 5/6, Rosberg 11/8.
Title: Hamilton 2/9, Rosberg 10/3.

Mercedes have already won the constructors’ championship.