For the primary time in three years the world championship will probably be determined within the closing spherical at Abu Dhabi.
Not the drivers’ title, in fact, however a struggle for the constructors’ crown between a pair of groups who haven’t received it for a very long time. Ferrari’s 16-year title drought is their longest ever, whereas McLaren has gone 26 years with no championship – no staff has ever gone that lengthy between crowns.
After 282 days and 23 rounds, System 1’s longest ever season lastly involves an finish on Sunday with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It is going to see many ‘lasts’ plus one notable ‘first’.
Lewis Hamilton’s record-breaking tenure at Mercedes will come to an finish after 12 seasons. Different drivers are altering groups and some extra are saying goodbye to F1. However for one racer, the ultimate race of the season guarantees to be the primary of their profession.
Listed here are the speaking factors for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
McLaren or Ferrari?
The drivers’ title struggle could also be over, however one championship stays to be selected Sunday at Yas Marina.
McLaren and Ferrari are two of the most important names in System 1, but neither has received both of F1’s titles for over 15 years. That can change on Sunday, with Purple Bull now eradicated from rivalry.
McLaren misplaced their probability to clinch the championship final weekend in Qatar, with Lando Norris’s penalty proving expensive. With a 21-point benefit over Ferrari, McLaren look way more prone to succeed, however Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jnr will probably be able to punish any error or setback for his or her staff’s rivals on Sunday for his or her final grand prix as staff mates.
Hamilton’s Mercedes farewell
After 12 seasons, 84 grand prix victories, 78 pole positions, 153 podiums, 3,937.5 factors, six drivers’ championships and eight constructors’ championship titles, this Sunday will probably be Lewis Hamilton’s 246th and closing grand prix as a Mercedes driver.
Formally the longest and most profitable tenure for a driver at any staff in System 1 historical past, it’s honest to say Hamilton has confirmed those that criticised his transfer from McLaren to Mercedes for 2013 comprehensively flawed.
The final three seasons of the bottom impact period have been essentially the most difficult and unsuccessful of Hamilton’s time at Mercedes. However this yr’s British Grand Prix victory will ceaselessly stand out as one of the vital memorable moments of their shared historical past. Hamilton additionally added a second win on the Belgian Grand Prix following the disqualification of staff mate George Russell.
After a dismal Qatar Grand Prix, each Hamilton and Mercedes will probably be determined to make this closing race collectively a optimistic one.
Advert | Turn into a RaceFans supporter and
Perez completed at Purple Bull?
Though it’s removed from official, rumours abound that Sergio Perez’s four-year spell at Purple Bull will come to an in depth after this weekend.
Yas Marina was the scene of considered one of his most interesting moments in a Purple Bull again in 2021, when he performed an important function in serving to Max Verstappen clinch the championship. He has additionally taken 5 victories for the staff, the newest in Azerbaijan final yr.
Can he lastly ship a efficiency he might be pleased with to cap off a horrible season? And if that is the top, will he get a correct sign-off, or will this be a repeat of Daniel Ricciardo’s awkward farewell from Purple Bull’s second staff in Singapore?
Extra drivers transferring on
This weekend would be the closing race for a lot of drivers with their present groups, with some prone to be racing in F1 for the final time.
On the finish of his fourth season at Maranello, Sainz will depart Ferrari after this weekend and be part of Williams. Sainz has received 4 grands prix in his time with the Prancing Horse, together with two victories this season in Melbourne and Mexico Metropolis.
Nico Hulkenberg marks the top of his second and final season as a Haas driver earlier than his transfer again to Sauber subsequent yr forward of their transition into Audi. His staff mate Kevin Magnussen will seemingly compete in a grand prix for the ultimate time this weekend, his 185th begin.
Each Sauber drivers, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, will race collectively for the ultimate time and probably for the final time as F1 drivers. Neither has secured a race seat for 2025 however each have been linked to order driver roles for 2025 with Mercedes and Ferrari, respectively. Franco Colapinto can be making his closing begin for Williams, however his performances since taking on from Logan Sargeant have marked him out as a candidate for a return sooner or later sooner or later.
And as for Esteban Ocon…
Advert | Turn into a RaceFans supporter and
Doohan’s debut
…there will probably be no Ocon on the grid this weekend. Alpine beforehand introduced Jack Doohan would take his place in 2025, however following final week’s race the staff revealed he’ll make his grand prix debut one race early.
The son of a number of Moto GP 500cc champion Mick Doohan, the 21-year-old will line up on the grid for the primary time forward of his first full season with Alpine in 2025. Doohan’s alternative comes after Alpine agreed an early launch of Ocon to permit subsequent yr’s Haas driver to drive this yr’s VF-24 in subsequent week’s post-season take a look at.
Whereas Doohan could have pushed this yr’s Alpine already in Friday practices in Montreal and Silverstone, he has not raced competitively since final yr’s System 2 spherical on the Yas Marina circuit. However the championship state of affairs will add additional strain on the debutant.
Go ad-free for simply £1 per thirty days
>> Discover out extra and enroll
Settling sixth place
Doohan’s debut comes on a important race weekend for Alpine who, together with Haas and RB, are combating over sixth place within the constructors’ championship.
After Alpine jumped up into sixth with a double podium in Brazil, Haas took it again the following spherical in Las Vegas. However final weekend, Pierre Gasly’s fifth place moved Alpine again into sixth once more.
With simply 5 factors separating Alpine and Haas, each place gained on Sunday will probably be essential. RB would require a significant haul of factors to grab sixth on the final second, however how aggressive they’re may additionally decide whether or not the order modifications on the ultimate Sunday of the season.
Advert | Turn into a RaceFans supporter and
Friday observe cameo extravaganza
Friday’s observe periods are the ultimate time that groups can cram of their rookie driver observe necessities they’re obliged to do for every of their vehicles a minimum of as soon as within the season.
Like final yr, anticipate to see totally different faces within the opening session of the weekend. McLaren growth driver and Toyota WEC racer Ryo Hirawaka makes his debut in a grand prix weekend for the staff, with F2 title contender Isack Hadjar driving Verstappen’s RB20 within the opening session. At Aston Martin, Felipe Drugovich may even change Lance Stroll within the first Friday session.
Race managed?
The stewards’ choices final weekend in Qatar made many headlines. However so did one other by new race director Rui Marques, who selected to not intervene when Alex Albon’s wing mirror got here off throughout the grand prix. This was criticised by some.
A day after the race, the FIA defined why there had been no Security Automobile or VSC when the mirror fell onto the monitor, outlining that the sphere was too unfold out to permit the incident to be coated below a Digital Security Automobile.
Marques is on the finish of a run of 4 consecutive race weekends in 4 totally different time zones, beginning with the Macau Grand Prix, then his first System 1 grand prix in Las Vegas per week later. That was adopted by F1 and F2 the following week in Qatar earlier than the identical once more this weekend in Abu Dhabi.
F1 and F2 drivers spoke positively of Marques previous to final weekend, however relations between the rivals and the FIA should not good, and a string of sackings on the governing physique has provoked questions on Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s administration. On the third anniversary of the infamous controversy involving race management, will the weekend go by with none additional dramas?
Advert | Turn into a RaceFans supporter and
Are you going to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?
In case you’re heading to Abu Dhabi for this weekend’s race, we wish to hear from you:
Who do you suppose would be the staff to beat within the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix? Have your say beneath.
Miss nothing from RaceFans
Get a each day e mail with all our newest tales – and nothing else. No advertising, no advertisements. Enroll right here:
