LEWIS HAMILTON and Nico Rosberg’s explosive feud is ready to erupt in Abu Dhabi.
Mercedes bosses fear the duo will go into meltdown as they fight it out for the Formula One world title in the Duel in the Desert.
The German only needs to finish in the top three at Yas Marina tomorrow to deny Hamilton a third consecutive drivers’ crown.
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But the team-mates have already clashed in THREE races this season. And Mercedes’ head of motorsport, Toto Wolff, is expecting a disaster for one of his stars.
He said: “Their relationship is like a volcano that is ready to erupt between the two of them.
“Now, everything is on the line. Their relationship changed from 2013 where they were given equal opportunity and then again in 2014 when they could win races and the championship.
“The two are very different personalities. Both of them developed as individuals and as team players and the way I’ve seen them the last couple of months is that it was remarkably calm and positive.
“But in the moments where they have collided, it was very difficult between them and for the team.
“In the last couple of races we have had a new serene atmosphere. They have helped keep the team together and the spirit high.
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“But we have to acknowledge that now everything is on the line.
“It is about winning and losing the drivers’ world championship.
“They can’t be in love with each other this weekend.
“They need to play all the tricks to put themselves in a situation to hopefully win the championship.
“We have already seen it start. The competition is very intense and like since 2013 (when they collided at Spa) we will just have to try to keep it together.”
This weekend’s showdown has brought back memories of the bitter end-of-season battles between F1 legends Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in Japan.
Prost was handed the 1989 title after Senna was disqualified when he cut a corner following a tangle with the Frenchman.
A year later the Brazilian won the crown as he took out nearest rival Prost at the first corner.
Rosberg is 12 points clear of Hamilton, and knows his rival almost certainly has to win here to stand any chance of landing the title. But the German says he will not try to take Hamilton out of the race.
Wolff says such a policy could backfire anyway — and hand glory to the Brit. He added: “It is very difficult to construct such a situation and make it work.
“I don’t think that’s the way Nico operates and it would not look very good. I don’t think either is considering playing that way.”
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