HE'S OUR WINNER ...NOT A LEWSER

Merc boss Wolff defends Hamilton and says a few bad races won't tarnish 12 incredible years'

- DANIEL MOXON

TOTO WOLFF insists the sour end to Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes career will be "quickly forgotten" and won't tarnish his legacy with the team.

Hamilton has won twice this season but he has found it tough going since the summer break.

Second place in Las Vegas has done little to banish memories of qualifying shockers in Austin and Brazil, while in Qatar last weekend he did not even make it into the points.

Ahead of Sunday's season finale in Abu Dhabi, team boss Wolff is determined to ensure their extraordinarily successful partnership ends on a high.