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

T
davehenrie said:
So I'm assuming they met long ago, growing up together almost....hmmm
thanks!
Click to expand...
This one made me chuckle.

Kelly Piquet was the girlfriend of Daniil Kvyat and they even have a doughter. So it's pretty easy to guess where they met each other. It's a bit like Corinna Schumacher who was the girlfriend of Frentzen. So Michael pinched Corinna while he and Frentzen were Mercedes junior drivers. Those naughty racing drivers ... :D
 
Jason Chamberlain
Premium
poet said:
Masi did a brilliant job.

F1 hasn't seen coverage, social-media engagement and headlines like this in a long time.

The sport takes a back seat to the publicity and sponsorship side of things, has done for a long time, and he delivered more exposure for the sport with that 1 decision than anyone has.

No such thing as bad publicity.
Click to expand...
This whole storm is ideal for F1. Twitter is buzzing about this. It's also extremely good for Lewis' brand. He may not have won the WDC this year, but I think that this will definitely be a net gain for him overall. And now next year F1 gets the narrative of the aggrieved champion trying to reclaim his crown.

Lewis fans will still watch F1 next year because it will be "Lewis against the world." It sets everything up perfectly for an exciting 2022, plus the new regulations.

I don't think that this was all calculated from the time Latifi binned his car, but it's working out well for F1.
 
Kostakop_
Damage Inc said:
Legal documents have to be water tight and this area is not water tight, especially when another rules allows for superscedence.

Because they didn't want the race and championship won under the SC? Agree with that or not, it's the clearly the main reason for the decision making at the end.

What would be better IMO is to do what BTCC do and ADD laps after a safety car, then we get the racing without controversy!
Click to expand...
There is the problem of fuel, the cars are only fueled to do a certain number of laps, adding extra laps and the cars wouldn't make it to the end
 
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Damage Inc
Corbyy said:
Ricciardo, Stroll and Schumacher also had the right to unlap themselves but no
Click to expand...
They weren't interfering with the title race, Masi couldn't let car unlap themselves until the track was clear, then there was a tiny window which only allowed some cars to unlap themselves before they called the SC in, once the SC is called in lapped cars are not allowed to unlap themselves. It's harsh and I understand the complaints, but come on Lewis fans don't be greedy he's got 7 and maybe a few more to come. Don't forget Lewis needed a whole lot of luck to get his 1st title.
 
Damage Inc
Kostakop_ said:
There is the problem of fuel, the cars are only fueled to do a certain number of laps, adding extra laps and the cars wouldn't make it to the end
Click to expand...
Following the safty car burns less fuel doesn't it? Either way teams could allow a bit extra fuel for extra SC laps just in case.
 
Bram Hengeveld
OverTake
Premium
Damage Inc said:
What would be better IMO is to do what BTCC do and ADD laps after a safety car, then we get the racing without controversy!
Click to expand...
Then the fuel rule needs to be removed. You can't just add extra laps and expect balanced F1 machines to not run out of fuel.

What Masi should have done is actually not that very complicated either: throw the red flag, allow all drivers to change tyres, restart the race behind the safety cars and still have a lap (or two) to the race. With that scenario I am sure both Horner and Toto could have lived.
 
mantasisg
^signaling those virtues

Oh yes mothers are very important. But few mothers has an impact on childs development similar like good father has, if anything mothers usually protects their child from taking risks, doing things that are hard and difficult. Mothers prevents from picking ways that are unknown and uncertain, they will often lead to some established, easy path with most guarantees and aren't interested in understanding how true mechanics of situation are. Mothers will go for childs safe existance and stability and their own reputation, over childs achievements, reputation and respect.

P.S. this ending of championship was quite weird, I wish it was just pure racing win without reality show, politic interference. But whole season was, it is how F1 is now - a show. But I am really happy that Max won, to me he stands for the right choice, also IMO he is becoming better driver than Lewis. Max is best racing driver there is at this moment, and he deserves the title.
 
Damage Inc
Bram Hengeveld said:
Then the fuel rule needs to be removed. You can't just add extra laps and expect balanced F1 machines to not run out of fuel.

What Masi should have done is actually not that very complicated either: throw the red flag, allow all drivers to change tyres, restart the race behind the safety cars and still have a lap (or two) to the race. With that scenario I am sure both Horner and Toto could have lived.
Click to expand...

This is what I don't like about F1, it's all calculated too much...too clinical, no soul.

Nah letting Lewis change tyres under a red flag wouldn't be fair either. Ultimately whoever lost would be complaining like mad and fans of that driver too. Sport is full of these "decisions"...football matches with too much added on time etc etc.
 
Bram Hengeveld
OverTake
Premium
Damage Inc said:
This is what I don't like about F1, it's all calculated too much...too clinical, no soul.

Nah letting Lewis change tyres under a red flag wouldn't be fair either. Ultimately whoever lost would be complaining like mad and fans of that driver too. Sport is full of these "decisions"...football matches with too much added on time etc etc.
Click to expand...
and that is the whole issue here. Whoever loses feels being wronged.

I can imagine that Hamilton had a sleepless night over the fact that he overtook 5 backmarkers on a track and Max 0 and still didn't win. It can't be explained :)
 
Motorhead68
Premium
Damage Inc said:
Legal documents have to be water tight and this area is not water tight, especially when another rules allows for superscedence.

Because they didn't want the race and championship won under the SC? Agree with that or not, it's the clearly the main reason for the decision making at the end.

What would be better IMO is to do what BTCC do and ADD laps after a safety car, then we get the racing without controversy!
Click to expand...
Nice idea but then refueling would likely need to happen
 
Terry Rock
Scottt said:
You must be extremely close with Lewis to know such details.

I would have guessed either of these guys would want to win any way they can.
Click to expand...

Scottt said:
You must be extremely close with Lewis to know such details.

I would have guessed either of these guys would want to win any way they can.
Click to expand...
Clearly....you have not been paying attention.
The man is a racer and has spoken numerous times about how he likes to win on track.
 
N
Bram Hengeveld said:
Then the fuel rule needs to be removed. You can't just add extra laps and expect balanced F1 machines to not run out of fuel.

What Masi should have done is actually not that very complicated either: throw the red flag, allow all drivers to change tyres, restart the race behind the safety cars and still have a lap (or two) to the race. With that scenario I am sure both Horner and Toto could have lived.
Click to expand...
That's exactly what Masi should have done, red flag the race.

Max would get a second go, Lewis would know his car is faster. Both on equal terms P1 and P2 down into T1 - 5 laps to go.

Instead, Masi made it all up on the spot and opened himself and the sport up to ridicule. An absolutely embarrassing state of affairs, to engage with the Netflix crowd.
 
D

  • Deleted member 1031992

The best on-track battle of the season was between Alonso and Hamilton in Hungary.
Clean pilots and not suicide bombers, that's the real race.
 
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