Lewis Hamilton has no intention of trying to ‘back up’ his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg if he is leading this weekend’s title showdown Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The defending three-time world champion, who is seeking a fourth consecutive Grand Prix victory to keep alive his slim hope of overhauling Rosberg’s 12-points lead, said instead that he will try to win the race by as big a margin as possible.

“Nico has been on pole here for the last two years,” Hamilton told a pre-race news conference at the Yas Marina circuit on Thursday.

“Here, he has been very quick. This has been a relatively strong circuit for me, but I’ve not been delivering the last two years, so my sole goal is to do so.

“In terms of tactics in the race, that has to come on Sunday, but that (backing up) has never been in my thought process. If I am ahead, I want to be as far ahead as possible.”

FOLLOW ALL THE PRACTICE ACTION LIVE:

Who do you think will take pole? Get in touch on social media, use #360 fans on Twitter and Facebook.