Mercedes to have psychiatrist on standby if Lewis Hamilton loses F1 title

Toto Wolff

London, Nov 17 (IANS)

Formula One team and 2014 constructor standings leaders, Mercedes have readied New Zealand sports psychiatrist Ceri Evans if their British driver Lewis Hamilton, who leads teammate Nico Rosberg by 17 points going into the final race in Abu Dhabi, loses his title bid.

Hamilton has 10 wins to his name compared to his German teammate's five, but could still lose the title thanks to the new double points rule introduced this year. The Mercedes duo will go head to head in the season's final race starting with qualifying Saturday and the main race Sunday.

The Brit had earlier rejected using a sports psychologist, but team boss Toto Wolff fears the blow of losing could be so severe that he has been planning how to support Mercedes' losing driver as well as celebrate with the winning one.

"I have looked that far ahead quite a lot," Wolff was quoted as saying by Mirror online.

"I was impressed by the way Alain Prost acknowledged Niki Lauda winning the championship by just half a point in 1984, even though it was a big blow, and then went on to take three titles in the next four years."

"I have told them we will do our best to make sure we can give them a car that can win championships, so, whatever happens, 'this will not be the end of your Mercedes career'.