It feels like déjà vu: whenever the Formula 1 entourage has come to Abu Dhabi in the past two years, Max Verstappen has always been the world champion. But the fight for the Constructors' Championship crown is still wide open this season. Only two teams remain in contention for the final race. Ferrari's challenger needs to make up 21 points from McLaren – tough, but not impossible.
The SF-24 is likely to prefer the smooth track with long straights over the Losail circuit from the last race in Qatar. However, the Scuderia cannot win the title alone. If Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz indeed celebrate a double victory, third and fourth places would still be enough for the McLaren duo to take the trophy back to Woking.
The question is whether Mercedes or Red Bull can provide support. The Silver Arrows have been rather glum lately, and Red Bull currently has only one competitive car. According to the latest rumors from Milton Keynes, Abu Dhabi might become Sergio Pérez's last race. Patience is running thin: for Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda, the season finale gives them a last chance to apply.
The officials at Red Bull hope that the two drivers with good performances can still make their mark in the battle for sixth place in the Constructors' Championship. Before the final race, the Red Bull B team is eight points behind Haas and 13 points behind Alpine. For his part, Nico Hülkenberg would like to defend his last place in the top ten of the drivers' championship. The German currently leads Pierre Gasly by just one point. For his teammate Kevin Magnussen, this will actually be his last Grand Prix in Formula 1, after which he will start a journey with BMW in prototypes.
Speaking of Hülkenberg: the German is one of three substitutes from teams participating in their current employer's last race in Abu Dhabi. Lewis Hamilton will move to Ferrari from Mercedes after his 246th Grand Prix. Carlos Sainz will have to leave the cockpit – the Spaniard will be racing for Williams in 2025. Esteban Ocon was actually supposed to celebrate his farewell in Abu Dhabi, but the Frenchman has already been replaced prematurely, with future Alpine race driver Jack Doohan stepping in.
As mentioned, Pérez's fate remains uncertain. Valtteri Bottas, Guanyu Zhou, and Franco Colapinto will certainly be fighting in their last Grand Prix appearances. They have not found new places for the upcoming season.
At the last race of the year, all arrows in the development quiver have long disappeared, and the budget for upgrades has been exhausted. It’s still worth keeping an eye on the cars in practice. In the finale, engineers have often tested experimental parts for the next season.
Formula 1 is currently a surprise package. In the last seven races, fans have seen six different winners. Predictions in Abu Dhabi are also tricky. On paper, Ferrari should have the best chances. The long straights and numerous slow corners suit the character of the SF-24. The temperature should still be within a range that the red car can cope with. Of course, it would be better if the tire was under more load.
Due to the lack of fast corners, we do not expect McLaren to be as strong as in Qatar. However, given the small gaps at the top, small details could matter. Verstappen must always be on your list. The Dutchman has won the last four Abu Dhabi Grand Prix races. Mercedes approaches the race as the underdog, but there are chances. If conditions and setup are right, the Silver Arrow should be in the mix, as it was in Las Vegas.
Recently, there have also been many ups and downs in the midfield. Pierre Gasly has proven that the upgraded Alpine is currently the fastest car. However, stability is still lacking here. Haas has chased points at all tracks, but individual mistakes often cost them their well-deserved rewards. Red Bull has fallen slightly behind its direct competitors. Just two points in the last two race weekends speak for themselves.
Recently, three teams at the bottom have faced additional competition. Sauber finally scored points: in Qatar, both cars from Hinwil made it to the second segment, and Zhou scored four points with an eighth place finish. Perhaps the Swiss team will tip the scales in the battle for sixth place.
About the circuit…
- Venue: Yas Island, Abu Dhabi Emirate, UAE
- Circuit: Yas Marina
- Lap length: 5.281 km
- Number of corners: 16 (9 lefts and 7 rights)
- Race distance: 58 laps (306.183 km)
- Tire selection: C3, C4, C5
- Top speed: 334 km/h
- Distance from pole position to first braking zone: 177 meters
- DRS zones: 2 (between T5-6 and T8-9)
- Race lap record: 1:26.103 Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 2021
- Qualifying lap record: 1:22.109 Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 2022
- Most recent winner: Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 2023
When the Yas Marina circuit opened in 2009 in the midst of the desert, it was proclaimed the eighth wonder of the world. People have since gotten used to the sight of the sparkling Formula 1 oasis with a marina for yachts. German circuit designer Hermann Tilke was allowed to bury over a billion euros in fine sand, making Yas Marina the most expensive circuit in the world.
However, the configuration in Abu Dhabi has never been able to make fans jump from their seats. Even the 2021 update changed little. Drivers were happy that the track became smoother, but Yas Marina is still not known for being overtaking-friendly.
Despite two long straights in the middle sector, changing positions here is traditionally a rarity. Vitaly Petrov's defensive battle, which heavily contributed to Sebastian Vettel's first victory in 2010, will never be forgotten. Despite having a significantly faster car, Fernando Alonso in the Ferrari could not pass the Russian in the Renault. The low tire wear ratio leaves practically no opportunities for big jumps using alternative strategies.
After the 2021 renovation, the desert track had only an average level of downforce. The lap time is still primarily determined in the winding final section, but one should not completely neglect good top speed. In the past, claiming pole in Abu Dhabi used to be half the battle. In each of the last nine runnings, the pole sitter has won the race.
There are no challenging fast corners on the Yas Marina circuit. Traction and braking stability are important factors to consider during setup. The surface is smooth. Therefore, cars can be set low. It is always interesting to see how the track changes with the transition from day to night and in which direction the tire grip changes as it cools. The first and third practice sessions usually take place at high temperatures under the midday sun. The asphalt cools noticeably during the second practice, as well as during qualifying and the race. Teams have to react to this by adjusting the chassis. If you do not warm up the tire to the required temperature, you will be helplessly sliding around. As usual, Pirelli is offering the softest compounds C3, C4, and C5.
Back in the past…
Three-time world champion Verstappen became the winner of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Dutchman, who started from pole position, won 19 out of 22 races in the 2023 season.
Pérez finished second, but due to a five-second penalty, he dropped to fourth place. Thus, Leclerc became second and George Russell finished third.
Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Fernando Alonso, Tsunoda, Hamilton, and Lance Stroll also finished in the top 10.
This was the final Formula 1 Grand Prix of the 2023 season. The world champion was Verstappen, Pérez finished second, and Hamilton third. The Constructors' Cup winner is Red Bull.
Weekend schedule (Moscow time):
Friday (December 6)
1st free practice session – 11:30 (12:30)
2nd free practice session – 15:00 (16:00)
Saturday (December 7)
3rd free practice session – 12:30 (13:30)
Qualifying – 16:00 (17:00)
Sunday (December 8)
Race – 15:00 (16:00)