2021 Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

2021 Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.jpg

Who will win the 2021 World Championship?

  • Max Verstappen

    Votes: 1,428 62.8%

  • Lewis Hamilton

    Votes: 845 37.2%
  • Total voters
    2,273
  • Poll closed .
Formula 1 enters the season finale of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with the driver’s championship leaders tied on points.

After a roller coaster ride of a season in F1, the final event of 2021 will be held in Abu Dhabi and will decide the championship battle between Max Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton. The two drivers are even on points entering the race.

Verstappen has won more races this year than Hamilton, so if the two end up finishing even after this race due to neither scoring points, the championship would go to Verstappen. Momentum seems to be with Hamilton after back-to-back-to-back race wins in Brazil, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, though points momentum has never lasted long this season.

The Yas Marina circuit is a location where both drivers have won in the past, with Hamilton having won numerous times at the track, and Verstappen being the most recent winner. The layout has been altered for 2021 to encourage more overtaking.

Looking away from the feature act of this race weekend, the constructor’s battle between Mercedes and Red Bull seems to be all but decided, with Mercedes holding a 28-point advantage. With Hamilton and Verstappen cancelling each other out on points, Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas have been involved in a lower profile battle than their teammates, but one full of surprises just the same.

This will also be the last time we see certain drivers in F1, or the last time we see them with their current teams. Perhaps the biggest departure is Kimi Räikkönen, who will retire from driving after Abu Dhabi. Kimi’s teammate, Antonio Giovinazzi, will also vacate his F1 seat after this season and will race in Formula E next year instead. One of the Alfa Romeo team seats will be filled by Bottas, who will finish this year third in the driver’s standings. His current seat at Mercedes will be filled by George Russell.

This looks to be an exciting finish to a season filled with drama and shocking moments. Let’s hope that we see the best from each of the championship contenders this weekend.

Qualification Results​

1Max VERSTAPPENRed Bull1:22.109
2Lewis HAMILTONMercedes1:22.480
3Lando NORRISMcLaren1:22.931
4Sergio PÉREZRed Bull1:22.947
5Carlos SAINZFerrari1:22.992
6Valtteri BOTTASMercedes1:23.036
7Charles LECLERCFerrari1:23.122
8Yuki TSUNODAAlpha Tauri1:23.220
9Esteban OCONAlpine1:23.389
10Daniel RICCIARDOMcLaren1:23.409
11Fernando ALONSOAlpine1:23.460
12Pierre GASLYAlpha Tauri1:24.043
13Lance STROLLAston Martin1:24.066
14Antonio GIOVINAZZIAlfa Romeo1:24.251
15Sebastian VETTELAston Martin1:24.305
16Nicholas LATIFIWilliams1:24.338
17George RUSSELLWilliams1:24.423
18Kimi RÄIKKÖNENAlfa Romeo1:24.779
19Mick SCHUMACHERHaas1:24.906
20Nikita MAZEPINHaas1:25.685

Race Results​

1Max VERSTAPPENRed BullLAP 58
2Lewis HAMILTONMercedes2.256
3Carlos SAINZFerrari5.173
4Yuki TSUNODAAlpha Tauri5.692
5Pierre GASLYAlpha Tauri6.531
6Valtteri BOTTASMercedes7.463
7Lando NORRISMcLaren59.2
8Fernando ALONSOAlpine61.708
9Esteban OCONAlpine64.026
10Charles LECLERCFerrari66.057
11Sebastian VETTELAston Martin67.527
12Daniel RICCIARDOMcLaren+1L
13Lance STROLLAston Martin+1L
14Mick SCHUMACHERHaas+1L
15Sergio PÉREZRed BullDNF
16Nicholas LATIFIWilliamsDNF
17Antonio GIOVINAZZIAlfa RomeoDNF
18George RUSSELLWilliamsDNF
19Kimi RÄIKKÖNENAlfa RomeoDNF

What are your thoughts on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix? Let us know on Twitter at @RaceDepartment or in the comments section below!

Photo credits: Red Bull Content Pool
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About author
Mike Smith
Mike Smith
I have been obsessed with sim racing and racing games since the 1980's. My first taste of live auto racing was in 1988, and I couldn't get enough ever since. Lead writer for RaceDepartment, and owner of SimRacing604 and its YouTube channel. Favourite sims include Assetto Corsa Competizione, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2, Automobilista 2, DiRT Rally 2 - On Twitter as @simracing604

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Comments

L
Enthilzha said:
Yes, true, but that is always of course understood with the proviso that the rules are adhered to at the same time. According to Masi's own understanding of the rules, this did not happen.
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That´s because he make sure the lapped cars interfering with the ones fighting for the championship were out of the table and the rest, If they interfere in another race position is something the FIA could manage later after the race, but the winner of the WDC is not something you would like to give and later take on papers. This woud hurt the sport much more than a controversial SC call.
 
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T
Damage Inc said:
I'd say anyone saying the rules were "broken" is a moron but hey ho.
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the normal safety car regulations and procedure were not followed .do you not have the intelligence to understand that ?
Do you also think any does not mean all as it is written in the regulations?
 
Motorhead68
Premium
Bram Hengeveld said:
This is a serious question for all max, lewis and fia fans: isn't that all what we wanted? Or are there people out there who prefered this insane season to be decided under a yellow caution?
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It could be the end of a tennis tournament, a football league or tournament, a cycling tour etc but in sport sometimes you have exciting endings, sometimes dull - that's just the way it goes.

The beauty and magic is that you don't know what the result will be and if it will be a thrilling game, match or final - it is the luck of the draw if you end up watching the ultimate match or game - what you don't want to see is a manufactured ending just to please fans, TV viewers, sponsors etc.

I'm sure we have all lived through the agony or ecstasy of penalty shoot outs, final frame deciders etc but the key is...that all the teams and spectators / viewers knew that by the rules & regs that was a potential outcome - it's when the final moments are 'seemingly' made up to create excitement that the magic of sport is lost.
 
Damage Inc
LeSunTzu said:
Masi probably did not allow the backmarkers to unlap because it was not safe. They were men on track.

Also tthe SC decisions should not be made considering only a couple of cars. There were other drivers than Hamilton and Verstappen who equally deserved a race, if it was possible, but were denied that by Masi's decision.
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They did deserve a race, I feel sorry for them. But this years WDC finishing behind the SC would be a worse ending IMO.
 
Damage Inc
Tommeee said:
the normal safety car regulations and procedure were not followed .do you not have the intelligence to understand that ?
Do you also think any does not mean all as it is written in the regulations?
Click to expand...
Masi has "discretion" within the rules, do you have the intelligence to look up what that word means?
 
Taj Johal
Premium
quote the full paragraph where he has discretion to change the rules winny ninny.
 
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muzikant
we can discuss endlessly the fact is that Max has been harmed enough by the same club then I didn't hear the merc fans either because everything was allowed until..... until it hits them
 
Taj Johal
Premium
in your opinion he was harmed, according to the rules he wasn't.

Do you really want FIA to decide to not to obey their own rules and perhaps DQ Max from a race, just because they feel it would spice up the season?
 
beetesjuice
I think damage is referencing Article 15.3

15.3 The clerk of the course shall work in permanent consultation with the Race Director. The Race Director shall have overriding authority in the following matters and the clerk of the course may give orders in respect of them only with his express agreement: a) The control of practice, sprint qualifying session and the race, adherence to the timetable and, if he deems it necessary, the making of any proposal to the stewards to modify the timetable in accordance with the Code or Sporting Regulations. b) The stopping of any car in accordance with the Code or Sporting Regulations. c) The stopping of practice, suspension of a sprint qualifying session or suspension of the race in accordance with the Sporting Regulations if he deems it unsafe to continue and ensuring that the correct restart procedure is carried out. d) The starting procedure. e) The use of the safety car.
 
Gevatter
Premium
Taj Johal said:
quote the full paragraph where he has discretion to change the rules winny ninny.
Click to expand...
15.3 The clerk of the course shall work in permanent consultation with the Race Director. The Race Director shall have overriding authority in the following matters and the clerk of the course may give orders in respect of them only with his express agreement: a) The control of practice, sprint qualifying session and the race, adherence to the timetable and, if he deems it necessary, the making of any proposal to the stewards to modify the timetable in accordance with the Code or Sporting Regulations. b) The stopping of any car in accordance with the Code or Sporting Regulations. c) The stopping of practice, suspension of a sprint qualifying session or suspension of the race in accordance with the Sporting Regulations if he deems it unsafe to continue and ensuring that the correct restart procedure is carried out. d) The starting procedure. e) The use of the safety car.


Edit: Goddamn it I'm too slow :D
 
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BrainsBush
Thursday is the FIA award evening. That's going to be a party! :speechless:
Curious if all teams, drivers, directors etc will show up?
 
T
Damage Inc said:
Masi has "discretion" within the rules, do you have the intelligence to look up what that word means?
Click to expand...
his discretion is not there to do anything he likes,his discretion should include fairness for the whole field and not benefit one team and one driver only
 
muzikant
Taj Johal said:
in your opinion he was harmed, according to the rules he wasn't.

Do you really want FIA to decide to not to obey their own rules and perhaps DQ Max from a race, just because they feel it would spice up the season?
Click to expand...
i say it for a whole year a club corruption.. but was often laughed at by the same people who are now complaining
 
Gevatter
Premium
Tommeee said:
his discretion is not there to do anything he likes,his discretion should include fairness for the whole field and not benefit one team and one driver only
Click to expand...
So you agree that ending the race under SC would have been the wrong call since it would have only benefitted Hamiltion instead of giving both drivers a chance?
 
Taj Johal
Premium
Yep I've read the same regs my self. It says the use of the safety car, I would presume according to the procedures.

Nowhere does it say he is allowed to not to adhere to the procedures or make up new ones.

Massi interfered with the sporting occasion and manufactured an artificial result.

Both Max and Lewis are the losers.
Max because his win is tarnished through no fault of his own.
Lewis because he was quite simply robbed.

This is as very messy situation and there is no easy answer, if at al,l on how to resolve and remedy the mess that FIA/Massi have made.
 
T
Damage Inc said:
Masi has "discretion" within the rules, do you have the intelligence to look up what that word means?
Click to expand...
He does not have dicretion to do anything he likes.His discretion should also include fairness to the whole field and not for the benefit of just one team Doh !
 
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Damage Inc
Tommeee said:
his discretion is not there to do anything he likes,his discretion should include fairness for the whole field and not benefit one team and one driver only
Click to expand...
Finishing behind the SC only benefits one team, why is that fairer?
 
Gevatter
Premium
Taj Johal said:
Yep I've read the same regs my self. It says the use of the safety car, I would presume according to the procedures.
Click to expand...
No you missed the part where it says "The Race Director shall have overriding authority". That explicitly states he can bend the procedures if he sees the need, eg. to uphold an agreement between the temas and the FIA.
 

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