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

Milos
F_B said:
But let's be honest: even if VES had been first after that corner - HAM is much faster with his Merc and would have overtaken him with no problems.
Click to expand...
It would have made for a better race (also it seems to be hard to overtake in Yas Marina)
With Merc in front you always know very certainly what will happen. That's why this is so boring
 
BP
Damian Reed said:
I've been a neutral all season and the racing has been fantastic, but some of the decisions by the stweards have been mind boggling.

Every time I watch the replay, I'm more and more certain that Lewis should have conceded the position.
Click to expand...
Let’s say we ignore the “cars must have significant overlap by braking zone” rule as is standard everywhere (which would rule in Hamilton’s favor). They were also side by side by the apex and both drivers are mandated to give room to each other. Max did not when he went straight on to the outside line. Lewis went off track because Max forced him: it was either off track or through Max.

Did Hamilton gain a couple tenths? Yes…but he wouldn’t have been in that position if Max didn’t put him there. Those tenths in essence was Max’s penalty for such a move on lap 1.
 
Milos
Brazil - you argued Max didn't make the corner. I agree.
SA - you argued Max didn't make the corner. I agree. Even Max agrees, gives the place back and gets a penalty anyway.
Now - Max makes the corner. What more do you want the man to do tf?!

Edit: also since Max was ahead when Lewis left the track, Hamilton technically overtook off track, which was illegal for max in Bahrain.
BP said:
Let’s say we ignore the “cars must have significant overlap by braking zone” rule as is standard everywhere (which would rule in Hamilton’s favor). They were also side by side by the apex and both drivers are mandated to give room to each other. Max did not when he went straight on to the outside line. Lewis went off track because Max forced him: it was either off track or through Max.

Did Hamilton gain a couple tenths? Yes…but he wouldn’t have been in that position if Max didn’t put him there. Those tenths in essence was Max’s penalty for such a move on lap 1.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
BP
Milos said:
So did Hamilton in Bahrain.
Click to expand...
If we’re gonna do the “whataboutism” game, then you also have to look back at bad moves Max made as well and no further investigation happened, not just Lewis.
 
F_B
Premium
No way VES will close that gap in the last 10 laps.
 

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