Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Preview: The End with a Twist?

Sunday, 08 December 2024 at 01:59

Finally, the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship season finale. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will not decide the Drivers' title - as Max Verstappen wrapped it up in Las Vegas but the seven-star Yas Marina Circuit does have to honour of crowning the Constructors' Champions tonight.

McLaren or Ferrari? Repeat that and think about that. Yes! Formula 1's two greatest teams are squaring up to bag their first F1 world title since 2008. The year Lewis Hamilton won it for McLaren, and also the year Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa combined to win the Constructors crown that year.

But for both teams, the WDR and WCC trophy cabinet has been bare as Red Bull and Mercedes cleaned up for the past two decades. Stats show McLaren are seeking their ninth F1 Constructors title, which would put them tied with Williams. Ferrari are dreaming of a record-extending 17th Constructors title today.

For today's race, even 'dumb money' is on McLaren to do the business after a front row lock out in Qualifying on Saturday at YMC, it is clear Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri want to end this campaign in style, while Ferrari have Sainz in the mix at the sharp end but Charles Leclerc, penalty ridden, will line up P19.

Top Three in Qualfying

Sure it does not bode well for Tifosi on paper, as history shows Abu Dhabi can throw up a twist (hence the headline) or two. Ask Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber, Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen etc etc.

Without a twist, the McLaren Boys should romp home to Zak Brown's ribcage-crushing bear hugs as the team boss delivers on his promise of six years ago. Returning the great Woking outfit to where it once operated as the benchmark team. They are there again.

Expect Sainz, in his last race for Ferrari (before making way for Hamilton) to try and do as much damage as he can, even win it for the Reds while Leclerc will be dreaming of a safety car because rain is unlikely! But unless the McLarens have issues or do something really stupid, this is theirs to lose. Sound familiar?

Exactly step up Max Verstappen who singlehandedly battled the McLaren's when Norris and Piastri had the best car on the grid, as they did on Saturday night at Yas Marina. Notably, the #1 Red Bull has more than once beaten the pair, or Norris in particular, when he shouldn't have.

Expect Max to go all out to win this one. Why? Because that is how he operates, and the guy who goes home after a long season, having won the last race of 2024, will sleep better than his rivals. Although that sleep will be more of a nap - next season is less than 100 days away.

Beyond that maybe George Russell and Mercedes find a magic button tonight. One thing is sure, the former serial World Champs still have little idea what makes their car fast or not. Maybe tonight George can find some of that Las Vegas magic and hit the jackpot in Abu Dhabi.

Beyond that, hard to see anyone else fighting for the podium.

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Grid Provisional

Other Abu Dhabi Grand Prix sideshows worth noting:

Apart from Hamilton's final race with Mercedes and Sainz's farewell to Ferrari, Sauber say goodbye to Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou; Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen race a final time for Sauber.
Williams thank Frnaco Copalinto for his six races in place of Logan Sargeant. Carlos Sainz will join Alex Albon in the team after tonight's race.
Who knows what will happen at Red Bull and VCARB? Sergio Perez appears to be beyond salvation with word in the paddock this is the Mexican's final Grand Prix for RBR. Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda are candidates to partner Max next year. But so is Colapinto on the radar apparently. All have something to prove today. Watch them!
Jack Doohan makes his Grand Prix debut tonight at Yas Marina with Alpine. The Australian will partner Pierre Gasly next year.
Finally, keep an eye on Fernando Alonso in P8. Can he move forward in his legendary style, or will he park it in frustration?

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Reuters Facts & Stats

Formula One statistics for Sunday's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina, the 24th round of the championship:
Lap distance: 5.281km. Total distance: 306.183km (58 laps)
2023 pole position: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Red Bull, one minute 23.445 seconds
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2023 winner: Verstappen
Race lap record: Verstappen 1:26.103, Red Bull 2021. (The circuit was modified after the 2020 race)
Start time: 1300 GMT (1700 local)

ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX

Sunday will be the 16th Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and 13th season-ender at the anti-clockwise track.
Three current drivers have won at Yas Marina, with five-times winner Lewis Hamilton (2011, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019) the most successful. Verstappen has won the last four (2020-2023), Valtteri Bottas won in 2017.
Hamilton has been on pole five times.
Only once has the winner not started on the front row: Kimi Raikkonen from fourth in 2012 with Lotus.

F1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Verstappen: It was nice to win in the dry

Verstappen clinched his fourth successive title in Las Vegas last month. He is the sixth driver to win four championships and only the second, after Sebastian Vettel, to win his first four consecutively.
McLaren's Lando Norris is eight points clear of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in the battle to finish overall runner-up, with a maximum 26 points remaining.
McLaren lead Ferrari by 21 points in the constructors' standings with 44 points to be won.
McLaren are chasing their first constructors' crown since 1998, Ferrari their first since 2008.

WINS, POLE POSITION & PODIUMS

Seven-times world champion Hamilton has a record 105 career victories from 355 starts, Verstappen has 63 from 208.
Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes have all won races this season. Seven different drivers have triumphed at least twice each.
Verstappen has won nine times this season. McLaren and Ferrari five each and Mercedes four.
Ferrari top the all time list with 248 wins, McLaren have 188, Mercedes 129 and Red Bull 122.
Verstappen has had eight poles this year, including the first seven in a row, while Norris is on seven. No other driver comes close, with George Russell on four, Leclerc on three and Carlos Sainz one.
Hamilton has a record 104 poles.
Verstappen has 112 career podiums, Hamilton a record 202.
Verstappen has been on the podium 14 times this season, Norris and Leclerc 12 each, Sainz and Piastri eight each.

2024 Formula 1 Drivers Standings before Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

2024 Formula 1 Constructors Standings before Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Red Bull have scored for 66 races in a row, the second longest run in F1 history. Ferrari hold the record of 83 (2010-14, when points were also awarded to the top 10).
Red Bull's Sergio Perez has scored just nine points from the last seven race weekends.
Sauber scored their first points of the season in Qatar, avoiding what would have been their second ever season (after 2014) without scoring.
Bottas's 11th place at Lusail lifted him off the bottom of the standings, ahead of dropped Williams driver Logan Sargeant.

ONE-TWO FINISHES

Four different teams (Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes) have all had a one-two finish this year. It is the first time in Formula One championship history that has happened.