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
  • Like
Reactions: FS4A and Kimirai
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

More in F1 & Motorsport

Comments

Richard Wilks
Corbyy said:
Well, I will stay there since it goes in circles. There should never have been a last round and Hamilton is the 2021 world champion if the rules had been purely applied then Verstappen will never have the right to wear the number 1 in 2022 because in March, we will be in the middle of the CAS procedure. Make the most of your break-in under the guise of an incompetent race director because justice will be done.
Click to expand...
Clock is ticking and Mercedes didn't appeal yet... if they dont, nobody will need to wait more than these hours that are left.
 
G
Corbyy said:
Well, I will stay there since it goes in circles. There should never have been a last lap and Hamilton is the 2021 world champion if the rules had been purely applied then Verstappen will never have the right to wear the number 1 in 2022 because in March, we will be in the middle of the CAS procedure. Make the most of your break-in under the guise of an incompetent race director because justice will be done.

Sir Lewis Hamilton, congrats for the 8th World Drivers' Championship
It's inevitable
Click to expand...
Got that right.
 
Damage Inc
navb said:
Not really.

Even as a Lewis fan, when he ran wide at T5 on the opening lap, I said he needs to give that position back. In fact, I still don't understand what "advantage he gave up" to neutralise running wide. Steward inconsistency as usual.

But you seem to be in "no doubt" about a lot of things. Makes having conversations with people online pointless.
Click to expand...
you're rare. ;) and by default having a "conversation" with people online is pointless, that's internet 101!
 
ParkYongLee
What I did not understand is Hamilton giving so much space and going the outside of the corner - like inviting Verstappen to go inner and overtake him. He probably could have kept him in check, if he really would have fought.

But he did the same as in the first lap, went soooo far in the outer zone of the corner, that Verstappen would take the rest of the track for himself.
 
S
Damage Inc said:
Just to clarify, I agree with the first part of your statement, but disagree Max is head and shoulders above most of the rest...I say the same thing about Lewis. F1 is about the cars and there's plenty of talented drivers in F1 who'd do much better in the Red Bull or Merc.
Click to expand...

I think there are probably 4 drivers right now that to me are arguably above the rest of the drivers, Verstappen, Hamilton, Russell and Norris. Maybe Alonso, but probably not at this stage.

Yes, F1 is mostly about the cars, but the drivers still play a large role in it. If the drivers didn't have a role, the WDC and WCC would be the same every year (it's not). Drivers would typically finish right next to their teammate every year (they don't exactly). And you wouldn't have certain drivers beat their teammate pretty much every year.

Max won the Drivers Championship this year, despite Mercedes winning the Constructors. His teammate finished 4th, 200+ points behind him. Some of this is because the team is going to favor the more successful driver, but much of is that the more successful driver is more talented. I don't think he's ever lost to his teammate in a full season. That isn't just luck.

Hamilton has beaten his teammate pretty much ever year except the Rosberg championship year and I believe one other year (don't feel like looking it up). That isn't pure luck.
 
Last edited:
Damage Inc
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?
Click to expand...
IMO I'd have preferrred it for Max to win by passing all the lapped cars between him and Lewis (presuming they 'd be given the command to mover over and do NOT interfere with Max (blue flag regs and all), then getting past Lewis. Could he have done that in one lap, possibly, we'll never know sadly.
 
A
Corbyy said:
Lewis did not cut the chicane intentionally. He was pushed out by Verstappen's aggressiveness and it seems normal to me that Hamilton keep the position to sanction Verstappen's aggressiveness
Click to expand...

?

Hamilton made a very clear error going into turn 6 by not defending the inside. Verstappen clearly had the slipstream and a decent exit coming onto the straight. Hamilton left the door wide open, Verstappen jumped in, took the racing line and made the corner. Hamilton braked too late and left himself with no option other than to go wide. You can call that aggressive racing, but literally all the ex-drivers during the broad (including fellow Brits like Brundle and Palmer) called it a clear penalty on Hamilton.

Hindsight is obviously 20/20, but Hamilton should have defended the inside or braked early (undercutting Max who went deep into the corner). Staying on the outside and just driving on like nothing happened, especially when there is no contact and when the other driver is on the track (on the racing line), has never been allowed in F1. It wouldn't be good for racing either if this was allowed, as going defensive in these situations is what makes the racing exciting in the first place. Hamilton would have had to compromise turn 6 to defend, giving Verstappen another shot down the second straight.

Funnily enough in the last lap you actually see Verstappen doing this correctly, by defending the inside to turn 6, and then later defending the inside on turn 9 as well.
 
Ken Verhagen
Damage Inc said:
IMO I'd have preferrred it for Max to win by passing all the lapped cars between him and Lewis (presuming they 'd be given the command to mover over and do NOT interfere with Max (blue flag regs and all), then getting past Lewis. Could he have done that in one lap, possibly, we'll never know sadly.
Click to expand...
Would not have made a difference because Ham fans would then argue the race should not have been restarted. Fandom is so polarizing. Just enjoy it for what it was which was an incredible season between two teams and drivers.
 
Damage Inc
Scottt said:
I think there are probably 4 drivers right now that to me are arguably above the rest of the drivers, Verstappen, Hamilton, Russell and Norris. Maybe Alonso, but probably not at this stage.

Yes, F1 is mostly about the cars, but the drivers still play a large role in it. If the drivers didn't have a role, the WDC and WCC would be the same every year (it's not). Drivers would typically finish right next to their teammate every year (they don't exactly). And you wouldn't have certain drivers beat their teammate pretty much every year.

Max won the Drivers Championship this year, despite Mercedes winning the Constructors. His teammate finished 4th, 200+ points behind him. Some of this is because the team is going to favor the more successful driver, but much of is that the more successful driver is more talented. I don't think he's ever lost to his teammate in a full season. That isn't just luck.

Hamilton has beaten his teammate pretty much ever year except the Rosberg championship year and I believe one other year (don't feel like looking it up). That isn't pure luck.
Click to expand...
That's just your "number 2" scenario IMO. Also I think driver skill differences is probably measured in the hundredths of a second. it's just the "head and shoulders" aspect, that's too much IMO. All the drivers are good, I'd bet Mazepin could win a race in the Merc!
 
Damage Inc
Ken Verhagen said:
Would not have made a difference because Ham fans would then argue the race should not have been restarted. Fandom is so polarizing. Just enjoy it for what it was which was an incredible season between two teams and drivers.
Click to expand...
But we wouldn't have the "regulations" argument.
 
S
Ken Verhagen said:
Would not have made a difference because Ham fans would then argue the race should not have been restarted. Fandom is so polarizing. Just enjoy it for what it was which was an incredible season between two teams and drivers.
Click to expand...

On top of that, we have a very short offseason this year and get to kickoff 2022 with huge changes to the cars. I'm very much looking forward to it and it wouldn't surprise me if neither RBR or Merc are at the top next year. It may be a good year to be Ferrari, Renault or McLaren fan.
 
S
Damage Inc said:
That's just your "number 2" scenario IMO. Also I think driver skill differences is probably measured in the hundredths of a second. it's just the "head and shoulders" aspect, that's too much IMO. All the drivers are good, I'd bet Mazepin could win a race in the Merc!
Click to expand...

I agree, sort of. The difference between the best driver and the pack is not huge in real terms, but when someone is slightly better and clearly slightly better; that becomes "head and shoulders" above. Very small differences that are consistent become significant and important.

And I don't agree that it's just a "number 2" scenario. RBR has been trying for how long to get a teammate for Max that can keep pace? The difference isn't because they favor Max, they favor Max because they can't find anyone else that can drive the car at his pace.
 
trichens
Premium
Perhaps adopt the NASCAR overtime rule where cars have to complete the last two laps under green.
If you reach race distance under yellow then more laps are added to the race.
Cars would have to carry more fuel of course, and you'd probably have to place a limit on how many laps can be added.

As to finishing under yellow, do the rules stipulate that the positions at the end of the final lap apply or the positions at the point the safety car is released onto the track - or the lap before?
For a red flag it's as at the end of the previous lap.

And in NASCAR all cars have to be picked up by the safety car before the pit lane is opened.
That would have prevented Max from darting into the pits to get tyres antil the following lap.

And red flag no work allowed on the cars but if you do - and that includes tyre change - you start from the pit lane.
Otherwise you are gaining a pitstop over your rivals.
 
Last edited:
Boby Kim
F1: the biggest global politics based matchfixing ever seen. And the public eats it and they don't care. Not traceable like drugs in the cycling world. All about making F1 great again. Aweful...
 
Zolazem
Premium
trichens said:
Perhaps adopt the NASCAR overtime rule where cars have to complete the last two laps under green.
If you reach race distance under yellow then more laps are added to the race.
Cars would have to carry more fuel of course, and you'd probably have to place a limit on how many laps can be added.

As to finishing under yellow, do the rules stipulate that the positions at the end of the final lap apply or the positions at the point the safety car is released onto the track - or the lap before?
For a red flag it's as at the end of the previous lap.

And in NASCAR all cars have to be picked up by the safety car before the pit lane is opened.
That would have prevented Max from darting into the pits to get tyres antil the following lap.

And red flag no work allowed on the cars but if you do - and that includes tyre change - you start from the pit lane.
Otherwise you are gaining a pitstop over your rivals.
Click to expand...

Max also would win when they added 5 extra laps. Mercedes just made the mistake to not Pit lewis for fresh tyres under VCS or SC. They not should blame the Fia but themselves.
 
Bram Hengeveld
OverTake
Premium
Zolazem said:
Max also would win when they added 5 extra laps. Mercedes just made the mistake to not Pit lewis for fresh tyres under VCS or SC. They not should blame the Fia but themselves.
Click to expand...
I think the mistake was made at the first pitstop. Why did Mercedes follow the early pit strategy of RBR who were on softs? In my opinion they gave away the initiative to Red Bull with that strange decision.
 

Latest News

Article information

Author
Mike Smith
Article read time
3 min read
Views
91,590
Comments
1,280
Last update

Share this article

Back
Top