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

Sasha Jednak
Bram Hengeveld said:
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 :)
Click to expand...
This would have so much more weight if "overtaking backmarkers" was more like in GT races. And not this "you have blue flag and you need to disappear". Who knows, maybe some day F1 rules get to be more racing oriented. :roflmao:
 
Bram Hengeveld
OverTake
Premium
navb said:
Instead, Masi made it all up on the spot and opened himself and the sport up to ridicule. An absolutely embarrassing state of affairs,
Click to expand...
But this man has the pressure of the entire world on his shoulders to make a decision in a split second while being shouted at by Horner and Toto.

I know how much debate we sometimes have deciding in majority on a simracing incident, can't imagine the pressure in real life F1.

There is a lot to say he made the right call on the spot yesterday but we in hindsight know everything better of course :roflmao::D, as that's our role to play in the F1 circus!
 
N
Bram Hengeveld said:
But this man has the pressure of the entire world on his shoulders to make a decision in a split second while being shouted at by Horner and Toto.

I know how much debate we sometimes have deciding in majority on a simracing incident, can't imagine the pressure in real life F1.

There is a lot to say he made the right call on the spot yesterday but we in hindsight know everything better of course :roflmao::D, as that's our role to play in the F1 circus!
Click to expand...
The problem is lack of consistency with the rules and general rules of engagement.

In my eyes, there were 3 options when Latifi crashed:
1) Finish the race under the SC, 0 laps
2) Leave the order as is, lapped cars can't overtake, 1 lap
3) Red flag, somewhere between 2-5 laps depending on fuel loads and decision timing.

It was clear they didn't want this season to finish under a SC. And it was also quite obvious that Max wouldn't have made it through the 5 lapped cars by T5 to make a (fair) dive on Hamilton. Which leaves (3).

Even 2 is satisfactory. 1 less so, but it follows the rules as they have always been applied.

Masi made his own rules on the spot. That to me, despite the amount of pressure he faced, is indefensible.
 
Damage Inc
Bram Hengeveld said:
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 :)
Click to expand...
yup but Lewis fans have 7 titles they have enjoyed (and Brits many many more) Max and Dutch fans this is their first, sometimes weird things need to happen to get your first.
 
Damage Inc
Corbyy said:
Please. It was 10 years ago. It is intellectual dishonesty.

Apart from Silverstone which is a matter of reflexes at 300km/h, Lewis was clean throughout the season.
Click to expand...
My point is all this "blah blah crashstappen/max is a danger" etc etc is no different to how Lewis was early doors. A fact many Lewis fans seem to forget. Lewis' rep as being amazingly clean is partly due to the fact he's had a car with such a mega advantage he hasn't really had to race wheel to wheel too often, but when he has had to scrap he causes a few himself.
 
D

  • Deleted member 1031992

It's a safe bet that the line "2021: Verstappen" will be modified in the next 12 months under decision of the CAS
 
trichens
Premium
I think the best we can hope for is that the rules regarding this get clarified.
I'm not sure exactly who was where "on-track" - not the race here - at the time the lapped cars were allowed past but...
MV came out of the pits between two cars so "on-track" he was sixth(?).
If the cars he came between were racing then by letting the cars in second to fifth place "on-track" unlap themselves the car in seventh place "on-track" was disadvantaged by that decision.

Or to put it another way, if LH and MV were further down the field and let's say VB was leading with NL second but LH was inbetween them "on-track" with MV behind NL
So have
VB 1st and 1st on-track
LH 6th but 2nd on-track and a lap down
NL 2nd but 3rd on-track
MV 7th but 4th on-track and a lap down

The question is would it be fair on MV for the race director to allow LH past VB so that there are no cars between VB and NL and leave MV with a huge disadvantage "miles" behind LH who is disappearing into the distance.

The issue here is that the rules MUST be applied fairly and without favour.
As I said to start with the rules MUST be clear and in this instance the "any lapped cars" wording needs to be changed to read "ALL lapped cars"
I think MV is a worthy champion just as LH would have been.
But the rules have got to be clear and as far as possible not open to interpretation.
 
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Damage Inc
Corbyy said:
It's a safe bet that the line "2021: Verstappen" will be modified in the next 12 months under decision of the CAS
Click to expand...
I hope not, Red Bull/Max did no wrong.....by setting such a sporting precedent then maybe we should look at all dodgy decisions in all sports over the decades and get the wrong decisions overturned?
 
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D

  • Deleted member 1031992

Following this stupidity of Masi, neither Lewis nor Max deserves to win or lose. I hope the winner of this season will be either both or unawarded.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
trichens
Premium
We also have to consider that MV has nothing to lose on the final lap.
If they were to take each other out then MV wins - LH had to finish and finish in front of MV

And the first lap incident - once again MV had nothing to lose. If LH had been unable to continue then he would have lost any chance of 8th WDC. MV knew that and that he could push LH into taking avoiding actions.
I think that's why no punishment was given to LH - a penalty for AVOIDING an accident would be a bit harsh
 
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Stingraymx
tr1v1um said:
I am not sure if Massi is a poor guy. It's his job and he earns quite a "bit" of money doing that job. I am pretty sure he knows the main bullet points like the 15.3 by heart. I am questioning if it is a good idea to let the teams have direct influence on the desicion via radio. Communication happens actually too fast in that particular case. I mean, Toto screaming on the radio like a little child during the last lap really made me lol. Same as RB discussing the T1 incident on the Radio for a couple of laps. That's stuff that should be easy to decide while consistently applying the rules.

What puzzles me a bit is that so called "race" fans want to see the race ending behind the SC just to get their baby home safely. Get real guys. What happened today should happen everytime. Clean race tracks as fast as possible and give the fans as much real racing as possible. We pay a fortune for it.
Click to expand...
Not sure this piece has any validity..... "What puzzles me a bit is that so called "race" fans want to see the race ending behind the SC just to get their baby home safely".
What genuine fans (should) want to see is sport that follows the prescribed rules, whether that means ending under yellows, a safety car or with reds (if the weather/track doesnt allow a restart).
It is a bit like saying that football team A is 1-0 up against football team B in a final, and with the last kick of the game team B scores, but when looked at on VAR they realise it was offside. To improve the spectacle and give us 30 more mins of extra time the referee could decide "well yes it is offside, but it would create a much better end to allow the goal, and carry on for 30 mins more". However the referee cannot make that decision if he/she follows the prescribed rules of the game.
A friend of mine (an official for a national touring car series) knows Massi personally and has (often !!) been on forums supporting him this season. However as the cars crossed the line he pinged me saying "Massi got it wrong this time as the Safety Car rules were simply not followed"...this was before the TV pundits specifically flagged the issue of the Safety car rules. The catch-all rule/reg that seems to give the Race Director free reign to interpret/over-ride rules/regs as he sees fit provides a very worrying precedent for "anything goes" in future.
However, onwards and upwards as the FIA will never reverse the decision due to bad PR (even if forced to by a court, they will simply void the whole race, meaning the same outcome as now), but there must be some severe inward reflection, learnings and rule/role clarifications before the next season, else we are down the route of NASCAR where they throw yellow flags out on a whim to back the pack up and create a good climax for TV. I think real "race fans" want to watch fair racing within a defined frameworks of rules and regs, something we clearly didnt get this year.
 
zwiss
Damage Inc said:
Silverstone not a dive bomb then? And didn't Lewis complain about Alonso's defending?
Click to expand...
Silverstone not a dive bomb, you are correct.
Silverstone extreme risky defence by Max, and just a slight touch of wheels.
And yes, Lewis is always complaining :)
 
D

  • Deleted member 1031992

If what happened to Hamilton had happened to Verstappen, there would currently be 3 hitmen behind Masi: one paid by Horner, one paid by Marko and one paid by Mateschitz but Verstappen and RedBull fans refuse to admit it

Don't be stupid and have a little empathy. What happened was not regulatory and fair play
 
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N
Stingraymx said:
Not sure this piece has any validity..... "What puzzles me a bit is that so called "race" fans want to see the race ending behind the SC just to get their baby home safely".
What genuine fans (should) want to see is sport that follows the prescribed rules, whether that means ending under yellows, a safety car or with reds (if the weather/track doesnt allow a restart).
It is a bit like saying that football team A is 1-0 up against football team B in a final, and with the last kick of the game team B scores, but when looked at on VAR they realise it was offside. To improve the spectacle and give us 30 more mins of extra time the referee could decide "well yes it is offside, but it would create a much better end to allow the goal, and carry on for 30 mins more". However the referee cannot make that decision if he/she follows the prescribed rules of the game.
A friend of mine (an official for a national touring car series) knows Massi personally and has (often !!) been on forums supporting him this season. However as the cars crossed the line he pinged me saying "Massi got it wrong this time as the Safety Car rules were simply not followed"...this was before the TV pundits specifically flagged the issue of the Safety car rules. The catch-all rule/reg that seems to give the Race Director free reign to interpret/over-ride rules/regs as he sees fit provides a very worrying precedent for "anything goes" in future.
However, onwards and upwards as the FIA will never reverse the decision due to bad PR (even if forced to by a court, they will simply void the whole race, meaning the same outcome as now), but there must be some severe inward reflection, learnings and rule/role clarifications before the next season, else we are down the route of NASCAR where they throw yellow flags out on a whim to back the pack up and create a good climax for TV. I think real "race fans" want to watch fair racing within a defined frameworks of rules and regs, something we clearly didnt get this year.
Click to expand...
There is a rule that allows Masi to overrule usage of the SC. So technically he didn't break any rule. But he did bend the rule to support a grandstand finish.

So yes, it is like your football analogy, but with a referee who sees the VAR offside and overrules it so the fans get 30 more minutes of exciting football (assuming refs had overruling powers).

Which makes the whole thing a shambles. The real fans have bemoaned what was a clear violation of the rules of engagement. The DTS / casuals enjoyed the excitement. Masi obviously decided in that moment which set of fans meant more to him.
 
N
Damage Inc said:
I hope not, Red Bull/Max did no wrong.....by setting such a sporting precedent then maybe we should look at all dodgy decisions in all sports over the decades and get the wrong decisions overturned?
Click to expand...
Mercedes and Hamilton did no wrong either. And that is precisely the problem.

The person governing the sport made the error, and one of the parties will lose out as a result.

It really puts a dampener on what has been the best season in decades.
 
LeSunTzu
In other words Masi played god and put the entertainment value above the sporting equity.

There is no such thing as perfect refereing/stewarding. The continuing mistakes that football has in spite of the VAR prove it. However a referee/steward should not deal decisions, or reverse decisions to accomodate one team or bend the rules to make up some show.
 
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Tigerteeth
Bram Hengeveld said:
But this man has the pressure of the entire world on his shoulders to make a decision in a split second while being shouted at by Horner and Toto.

I know how much debate we sometimes have deciding in majority on a simracing incident, can't imagine the pressure in real life F1.

There is a lot to say he made the right call on the spot yesterday but we in hindsight know everything better of course :roflmao::D, as that's our role to play in the F1 circus!
Click to expand...
He had more than a split second. He had several laps under the safety car to make a decision and communicated his result to all of the teams. He had already made a decision which everyone understood. And then he suddenly changed it moments before the green light. The FIA have not explained the reason why this happened, only that the result stands.

The controversy is about the sudden change of rules and whether it unfairly gave Verstappen an advantage.
 
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LeSunTzu said:
In other words Masi played god and put the entertainment value above the sporting equity.

There is no such thing as perfect refereing/stewarding. The continuing mistakes that football has in spite of the VAR prove it. However a referee/steward should not deal decisions, or reverse decisions to accomodate one team or bend the rules to make up some show.
Click to expand...
Add to that the appeal process should not go back to the same group of people who sat in a room and dealt out the rules.

The appeals process is its current guise is worthless. "You did wrong, will you overrule yourself?". "No".
 

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