Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton already battled for the Formula One world championship in Abu Dhabi two years ago, though it was the Briton leading his team-mate by 17 points at the start of that weekend.
Rosberg could still receive a boost from a double-points system that forced Hamilton to finish second if he were to win the race. The German drew first blood in the title fight when he secured position nearly four tenths ahead of the second Mercedes in qualifying, which took place on this date in 2014.