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Firstly apologies. I just realised this evening that I had done nothing about a preview for this weekend. Must be still hungover from the lets say unique events of last weekends Vegas thingy. So here it is, a quick one I am afraid, just to get something in place.
We go from the lights of Las Vegas to the Abu Dhabi sunset in the space of just a few days, after a journey of just over 13,000 kilometres, for a race that is now well-established as the season-closer. Yas Marina will host the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for the 15th time this weekend, and 11 of those have marked the final race of the season.
Max Verstappen and Red Bull can wrap up Formula One’s most one-sided season with a final record-extending flourish in Abu Dhabi this weekend as Mercedes and Ferrari battle to be best of the rest.
The 22nd round of the season -- the equal longest until next year’s 24 -- ends at floodlit Yas Marina on Sunday after an American leg that culminated in a gruelling Las Vegas 'spectacular' last weekend.
Im not going to dwell too much on last weekend other than to say thank goodness it ended up better than it started last weekend. When we got just 8 minutes into P1 it was not looking like flash with what was happening on track. I will just say though that contrived and due to everything from oil dropping drivers parade cars haing to get their bottoms wiped and their droppings cleaned up, Virtual and Real Safety Cars, DRS passes, dubious tyres, ridiculous time slots and scheduling, oily track, mid race penalties etc we did end up with a number of lead changes, and indeed we had passes on the last lap to settle who stood on what step of the podium..... a podium I must add that must be the furthest from where the cars have ever finished.... so far it needed a limo ride to get to, and a display of Bellagio waterworks to fill in the time.
Anyway as an event it was awful, but as a race it was much better than many including myself had anticipated. Final thought from me.... Monaco it was not, regardless of what the Liberty propaganda and American media might tell us.
So we leave the desert of Las Vegas, that brought with it tit freezing conditions, and make our way to the final stop of the year in Abu Dhabi, another desert location to be run under lights at night, albeit this time run at night to avoid the heat of the day.
Nothing much at stake really ...... with Sergio's podium and an off the pace Lewis having resolves the best loser trophy in the WDC, that now safely secured by Sergio. The main thing up for grabs now is the best losing constructor trophy, which thanks to Ferrari's pace and Mercedes ordinariness last eekend we now have a genuine battle. Mercedes appeared to be relatively comfortable in the runner-up position after the summer break, when they had a 51-point advantage over Ferrari and at the time enjoyed a more consistent level of performance.... a bit of a turnaround since then. A combination of Mercedes losing direction and an upgrade for Ferrari at Monza. Since then Ferrari have been far more competitive, with Carlos Sainz on pole that weekend in Italy and following that up with another pole and victory in Singapore – the only time Red Bull have been beaten this year.
With 43 WCC points on the table Mercedes lead by just 4 points, so it really does come down to which team (I say the word team deliberately) gets both drivers in a better place at the race end. I will just add Charles Leclerc has also been on pole position at three of the past four races... all he needs is to do something a little different and win from pole and it should be job done for Ferrari.
As I have implied, on recent form Ferrari have to be the favourite to bridge the gap and jump the whatever colour arrows that adorn the Mercedes this weekend, but those Mercedes people have cavernous bottoms to pull things out of.
Other than that and a few squabbles for lower positions, if you can call P4 that way..... Again the battle for 4th in the WCC was looking like McLaren had the momentum and had hauled the eaarly season seemingly out of reach Aston Martin back in and taken a decent lead. However rther ordinary results teamwise in Brazil (though Lando got 2nd Piastri was nowhere) and Vegas, where the total effort gave Macca just a single point, coupled to a return to form for Aston, not to mention the rare contribution of Stroll to the team have seen 4th being far from over. To put a number on it McLaren lead Aston by just 11 points and as said 43 on the team table this weekend.
At the bottom, only 16 points separate last-placed Haas from Williams in seventh. The latter is just seven clear of AlphaTauri while Haas is four behind Alfa Romeo.
I have perhaps been a bit dismissive in terms of the WDC also rans.... Carlos and Nando have their horns locked on 200 points each in 4th and next just 5 points behind is the other Ando with an L. Oh and Charles is only 8 behind so 4 drivers within 12 points gives them a reason to do well.
So other than that given the recent Sprint races many teams have fallen a little behind with their need to run rookies in FP1 , so we will see some rookie type faces coming out to play F1 driver.
They have taken it to extremes though this year.... First practice is going to see half of the grid replaced, with the unusual sight of both Red Bull drivers stepping aside for Jake Dennis and Isack Hadjar respectively.
Other new faces will be seen at McLaren – where Pato O’Ward gets his first run of the season at the same venue he tested a year ago – and Williams, as Zak O’Sullivan makes his debut on an F1 weekend.
Fred Vesti gets another outing at Mercedes while Robert Shwartzman will be driving for Ferrari, and there are also repeat appearances for Felipe Drugovich (Aston Martin), Jack Doohan (Alpine), Theo Pourchaire (Alfa Romeo) and Ollie Bearman (Haas).
Oh I nearly forgot..... Farewells will be said to Alfa Romeo, the title sponsor of Swiss-based Sauber, which is due to become the Audi works team from 2026.
Ta Ta to Alfa even if it wasnt a proper Alfa Team if you know what I mean.
THE SCHEDULE
Better just do the Schedule. Back to a more normal weekend with the race on a Sunday and P1 on the Friday.
FRIDAY 24 NOV
Practice 1
13:30 - 14:30
Practice 2
17:00 - 18:00
SATURDAY 25 NOV
Practice 3
14:30 - 15:30
Qualifying
18:00 - 19:00
SUNDAY 26 NOV
Race
17:00
THE TRACK
The track was modified in 2021 to make it faster and more flowing, which also created extra overtaking opportunities, as we saw over the last two races there.
The Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, is believed to be the most expensive F1 track ever built, with a reputed construction cost in 2009 in excess of €800m ($1bn).
No expense was spared for the construction of the purpose-built facility on a man-made island. Its most distinctive feature is the Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi Hotel which sits atop the track, and bridges it between turns 18 and 19. Another unique feature is the pit lane exit, which passes underneath the circuit by means of a tunnel.
In 2021 a raft of changes were made to the track, aimed at improving the racing. Two sequences of chicanes were replaced by quicker corners, and some slower turns eased. However the first race on the revised configuration was overshadows by "other things".
Yas Marina is made up of 16 corners as well as some fast sections. Aerodynamics are an important aspect to guarantee a strong performance and optimal tyre management. It has a total of six different configurations for different types of racing.
The drivers are on full power for 69% of a lap at Yas Marina, including over 14 seconds on the back straight (one of the longest straights in Formula 1). Drivers make an average of 68 gear changes per lap or 3740 gear changes over the full 55-lap race distance.
The other fctor for teams to take into account is the different times for much of practice to the race and the daylight sessions giving much warmer track temps in practice to the main events. As a result this event sees significant swings in track temperature during the first two days. First practice on Friday and final practice on Saturday are held in much hotter conditions than the rest of the weekend’s running. Teams risk leading themselves up the garden path if they draw too many conclusions in those hours of running: Friday’s second practice session is always the one to take note of.
Conditions on the artificial island in the desert are reliably stable, as the historic data below shows. Race day air temperatures are currently predicted to be around 27C, slightly cooler than the last two years, as was expected last year when the race moved back towards its original time slot after the Covid-19 pandemic meant this regular season-closer was held later than usual.
Following an extensive resurfacing when the track layout was overhauled in 2021, some sections of asphalt have been refreshed again this year. This will potentially have a further bearing on grip levels as newly-laid surfaces tend to be darker, retaining more heat.
First Grand Prix
2009
Number of Laps
58
Circuit Length
5.281km
Race Distance
306.183 km
Lap Record
1:26.103 Max Verstappen (2021)
Yas Island
When was the track built?
In 2006, plans were announced to develop Yas Island, located just to the east of Abu Dhabi, into a new tourist destination, with a major part of the plans centring around a 5.5km race track. The diggers rolled into what would become the Yas Marina Circuit in May 2007, with the project completed by October 2009.
When was its first Grand Prix?
In 2009. The track debuted as that year’s Formula 1 season finale, with Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel winning from team mate Mark Webber and the already-crowned 2009 champion Jenson Button. Vettel would go on to secure his first title in Abu Dhabi a year later, amid much crying.
What’s the circuit like?
The Hermann Tilke-designed track is dominated by its 1.2km straight between Turns 5 and 6 – which, with slow-speed corners marking its beginning and end, makes it a honeypot for overtaking moves. Other highlights include the tricky run through Turns 10 and 11 into 12, which forces the drivers to brake hard with bags of lateral load still on the car. Track modifications ahead of the 2021 race, shortening the lap slightly to 5.28km, have only added to its excitement.
In the last six years, Max Verstappen has taken three poles here, Lewis Hamilton has taken two, and Valtteri Bottas has taken one. In fact, since the first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2009, only McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes – and only six different drivers – have taken pole position here.
Last year saw a fraught battle for the win and the title between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton here, but this year it looks like Verstappen and Red Bull have the advantage in Abu Dhabi where, in the hybrid era, only Mercedes and Red Bull have won.
Qualifying is super important at Yas Marina Circuit; only once has this race been won from outside the front row, when Kimi Raikkonen took victory from P4 on the grid in 2012.
In three of the first four Abu Dhabi Grands Prix, the polesitter failed to finish the race. In the last seven years, the polesitter has never failed to win.
Raikkonen’s 2012 victory here is the only time the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been won away from the front row of the grid. The Finn started fourth in a race which was famous more for some memorable radio transmissions.
Red Bull have never failed to get both of their cars through to the final part of qualifying on all of their appearances at the Yas Marina Circuit. Sergio take note!
Pole positions in the last six years:
2022 - Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2021 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2020 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2019 – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2018 – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2017 – Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
Lewis Hamilton is the most successful driver at the circuit with five wins. This is closely followed by Sebastian Vettel who has had three wins. Max Verstappen has claimed two.
Wins in the last six years:
2022 - Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2021 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2020 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2019 – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2018 – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2017 – Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
..... and before that
Year Driver Constructor
2009 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault
2010 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault
2011 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
2012 Kimi Räikkönen Lotus-Renault
2013 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault
2014 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
2015 Nico Rosberg Mercedes
2016 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR?
2022 Race Highlights.
You know the form click the play on youtube button.
Max Verstappen won the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in comfortable fashion – but Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took P2 to finish ahead of Sergio Perez for second in the championship.
Verstappen fended off Perez into Turn 1 and swapped his mediums for hards on Lap 20, with the Dutchman using hard tyres until the end to take his record-extending 15th win of the season.
As for Perez and Leclerc, who were tied on points for P2 in the championship heading into this race, they produced a nailbiting battle. Perez pitted early for both of his stops, while Leclerc reacted by extending his second stint and ensuring a one-stop strategy. The Red Bull driver closed in on the Ferrari with four laps remaining but couldn’t make his way past for P2, and therefore finished third and fell to third in the championship behind Leclerc.
Carlos Sainz finished fourth for Ferrari as Lewis Hamilton – who sparred with the Spaniard earlier on but was forced to return P4 to the Ferrari having gone wide at Turn 6 on Lap 1 – attempted a one-stop strategy but retired in the pits three laps from the end. That left Russell a lonely fifth for Mercedes.
Hamilton's retirement promoted Lando Norris to sixth for McLaren, while Esteban Ocon was P7 for Alpine, who finished fourth in the constructors’ standings despite Fernando Alonso’s DNF in his last race for Alpine. Lance Stroll’s two-stop strategy saw him finish eighth.
Daniel Ricciardo’s one-stop strategy saw him finish ninth and just six-tenths ahead of retiree Sebastian Vettel, who couldn’t make it past the McLaren and took a single point to leave Aston Martin level on points with Alfa Romeo but behind the Sauber-run team in the standings.
Yuki Tsunoda missed out on points with a final stint on softs failing to pay off, while Alex Albon enjoyed a solid start and took P12 ahead of Zhou Guanyu and one-stopper Pierre Gasly – who began the race on softs.
Valtteri Bottas finished 15th ahead of Mick Schumacher, who finished 16th in his last appearance for Haas after taking a five-second penalty for clattering into Nicholas Latifi (who later retired). Kevin Magnussen was 17th as his one-stop strategy failed to pay off.
Verstappen, Leclerc, Perez and Vettel capped off Sunday’s race with some celebratory donuts as the 2022 Formula 1 season came to a close in Abu Dhabi – and the four-time champion bowed out of F1 with style.
2023 Race Result
POS NO DRIVER CAR TIME
1 1 Max Verstappen RED BULL RACING RBPT 1:23.824
2 11 Sergio Perez RED BULL RACING RBPT 1:24.052
3 16 Charles Leclerc FERRARI 1:24.092
4 55 Carlos Sainz FERRARI 1:24.242
5 44 Lewis Hamilton MERCEDES 1:24.508
6 63 George Russell MERCEDES 1:24.511
7 4 Lando Norris MCLAREN MERCEDES 1:24.769
8 31 Esteban Ocon ALPINE RENAULT 1:24.830
9 5 Sebastian Vettel ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO MERCEDES 1:24.961
10 14 Fernando Alonso ALPINE RENAULT 1:25.096
11 22 Yuki Tsunoda ALPHATAURI RBPT 1:25.219
12 47 Mick Schumacher HAAS FERRARI 1:25.225
13 3 Daniel Ricciardo MCLAREN MERCEDES 1:25.045
14 18 Lance Stroll ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO MERCEDES 1:25.359
15 24 Zhou Guanyu ALFA ROMEO FERRARI 1:25.408
16 20 Kevin Magnussen HAAS FERRARI 1:25.834
17 10 Pierre Gasly ALPHATAURI RBPT 1:25.859
18 77 Valtteri Bottas ALFA ROMEO FERRARI 1:25.892
19 23 Alexander Albon WILLIAMS MERCEDES 1:26.028
20 6 Nicholas Latifi WILLIAMS MERCEDES 1:26.054
Note - Ricciardo penalised 3 grid places for causing a collision at the previous round.
TYRES
Yas Marina is on the lower end of the scale when it comes to tyre demands, despite the vertical loads on the front axle in particular. As a result, we’ve selecting the softest three compounds, with C3 as the hard, C4 as the medium, and C5 as the soft. This is the same choice as last year, and also an identical selection to that seen at Las Vegas last weekend: confirmation of the versatility of the current compounds.
Nearly all the drivers started last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on the medium tyres.
The top three finishers – in order, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez – all stopped just once to put on the hard tyre, between laps 16 and 21.
WEATHER
Friday - FP1 and FP2
Forecast: Clear with a breeze during FP1.
Temperature: 27C / 81F
Chance of precipitation: <5%
Saturday - FP3 and Qualifying
Forecast: Chance of light rain earlier in the day, but clearing up by the afternoon.
Temperature: 27C / 81F
Chance of precipitation: 30% dropping to 10% for Qualifying
Sunday - Race
Forecast: A clear sky and gentle breeze.
Highest temperature: 29C / 84F
Chance of precipitation: <5%
HISTORY
Racing History in Abu Dhabi?
Yeah thats about it.
In F1 terms the first race was held in 2009.... Despite being their closing Grand Prix, Brawn GP were already the Constructors Champions, winning at the Brazilian Grand Prix. At the same event, Jenson Button had also won the championship. Sebastian Vettel would take first place with Mark Webber coming in second to organize a 1-2 finish for Red Bull.
The 2010 World Championship
While the 2009 Formula One season was already won by the time the race got to Abu Dhabi, 2010 was a different story. The championship was decided at the track.
The championship leader at the start of the race was Fernando Alonso. He was ahead of Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel, who both had everything to race for. Even Lewis Hamilton was still in with a chance though he was 24 points behind Alonso.
Vettel was in pole position at the start of the race. Alonso had a bad start and took an early pit stop, as did Mark Webber. This took them out of the running.
Vettel would then take the race to become the youngest F1 champion ever. Hamilton and Button would join him on the podium.
Raikonnen Returns in 2012
In 2012, Kimi Raikkonen won the race after he had just come back from a two-year hiatus. Racing for Lotus, he had not won since the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix. The race featured a huge Rosberg and Karthikeyan accident along with a pit lane start to third position comeback from Vettel.
2014 Title Win
Once again, in 2014 the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was the last of the season and was the championship decider. However, it proved controversial as the FIA awarded double points for drivers in the race.
Hamilton needed only a second-place spot to win the championship. He managed to clinch first place ahead of Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas.
2015
The race was won by Nico Rosberg making it three wins in a row with Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Räikkönen completing the podium.
2016
The race was won by Lewis Hamilton making it four wins in a row with Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel completing the podium and Rosberg securing his one and only Drivers' Championship. He then promply announced his retirement
2017
The race was won by Valtteri Bottas, with Lewis Hamilton in second and Sebastian Vettel completing the podium.
2018
The race was won by Lewis Hamilton, with Sebastian Vettel in second and Max Verstappen completing the podium.
Alonso, Hamilton & Vettel Do Donuts! | 2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Click watch on youtube.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Facts
Lewis Hamilton is the most successful driver at the circuit with five wins. This is closely followed by Sebastian Vettel with three wins, joined last year by Max when he won his third Abu Dhabi race on the trot
The only time double points have been awarded in an F1 race was at the 2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It was introduced to ensure competition until the end of the season after domination by Red Bull. Originally proposed for the final three races, a compromise was settled on the final race only.
Fortunately it was one of those F1 ideas that got dropped. (Sprint races take note
)
Discuss away
EDIT. Forgot to mention it but if ou get bored with F1 this weekend there is also FIA F2 on the card, .... they will also be winding up their 2023 season this weekend, with the usual Sprint race on Saturday and Feature race on the Sunday.
)
). Also Williams are running Zak O’Sullivan who makes his debut on an actual F1 GP weekend.
