Mercedes boss Toto Wolff fears that the outcome of the fight for the drivers' title will be overshadowed by the double points on offer in Abu Dhabi.

It is hard to find anyone in favour of Bernie Ecclestone's brainchild - though at least he didn't get his way and have double points introduced for the final three races. Nonetheless, with two races remaining it is likely that the move introduced to 'spice up' the end of the season will in fact end up doing further damage to the sport.

Yesterday's 1-2 for Mercedes, despite a bold performance from Daniel Ricciardo, finally ended any hopes of the Australian taking the title, leaving Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg as the sole contenders.

The 24 point lead the Briton takes to Brazil this weekend means that whatever happens the title fight will go down to the wire in Abu Dhabi, where the dreaded double points come into play.

"I don't have a fear, but I think the last race with the double points has the potential to overshadow the season," Wolff told reporters in Austin.

"We know why we have double points, which made sense to make it spectacular for the audience, the fans and the viewers," he added. "But now we are in a situation where it could change the outcome."

Of course, there have been some anomalies in terms of the points system over the years, not least drivers only being able to count so many results, a rule, which if it had not been in force, would have seen several seasons with a different outcome. However, in the eyes of most, the double points on offer in Abu Dhabi are nothing more than a silly gimmick and one which could backfire.

Having seen his team score its tenth 1-2 of the season, thereby equalling McLaren's long-standing record from 1988 - the season in which the Woking outfit won all but one race - Wolff said he could now relax... if only just a little.

"As a kid I remember this dominant season of McLaren, seeing those cars scoring one-twos all the time up to a point that it was almost boring. It was just pure dominance. For us to equal that record, and to be able to do one or two more, is proof the team have done many things right and we have taken many good decisions.

"Normally I don't care about statistics," he admitted, "but that one is something which reminds me of many years ago."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Spindoctor, 05/11/2014 13:13

"I wonder what would happen if the head of the FA or the Premier League suddenly announced that next season the last couple of matches would attract double points...."

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2. Posted by Peter W, 04/11/2014 13:33

"Bernie you are a Plonker..........."

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3. Posted by nonickname, 04/11/2014 4:50

"Many thanks Joop.Can't stop smiling."

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4. Posted by Joop deBruin, 03/11/2014 16:27

"Nonickname, you're thinking of the Lone Ranger's house Ton to. Toto was the little dog in the Wizard of Oz."

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5. Posted by nonickname, 03/11/2014 16:05

"Stoney you are in a class of your own.I have never seen such a brilliant overview/summary in my life....many thanks for putting everything in perspective.I can go to sleep a happy man......unless darkness
posts again.:("

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6. Posted by stoney, 03/11/2014 14:58

"'We know why we have double points... But now we are in a situation where it could change the outcome'.

Errr... so if you don't want it to change the outcome, why do you have double points?

...'to make it spectacular for the fans'.

So will there be some EXTRA spectacular way of adding up the points now at the end of the race? (horrible mental image of Eddie Jordan in a sparkly shirt...)

Are fans thinking adding 50pts is more 'exciting' than 25pts? ...somehow like the Double Money round in Family Fortunes???

And most importantly.... why am I still surprised????"

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7. Posted by my tyres are going off, 03/11/2014 14:42

"I'm getting old and my memory is not as good as it was, but was not double points touted as ensuring the championship went down to the wire rather than being decided in USA or Brazil? Is that not what we have?"

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8. Posted by ape, 03/11/2014 14:06

"At least we see good racing between the two teammates , WEebber was not as good as Seb during the Red bull dominance and Schu was protected by the teamorders in the boring Ferrari era.
"

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9. Posted by nonickname, 03/11/2014 13:24

""As a kid I remember this dominant season of McLaren, seeing those cars scoring one-twos all the time up to a point that it was almost boring. It was just pure dominance. Toto does it again! This man opens his mouth to change feet.We are bored Toto,please understand.( Wasn't Toto a horse in some very old western movie series?)"

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Wolff: Double points will overshadow season

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