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
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

Comments

OverTake
Premium
A friendly reminder: we are not going to tolerate mudslinging between Hamilton and Verstappen fans. We are all here to have discussions but verbal fights don't belong to this great sport.

If you are too emotional to leave a mature response, don't post and switch off your pc, tablet or phone and go do something else.
 
I'm completely torn down the middle here.

On the on hand I really do want to see Hamilton, my fellow countryman, become the greatest of all time in terms to championship wins....

But I also really want the young upstart to take the wind out of Hamilton's sails, and take his first well deserved championship.
 
Premium
I'd like Verstappen to win because long lasting reigns have always been bad or boring. However, I somehow feel that Hamilton is going to win because of the car being superior at the moment (that Power Unit 5 is a beast) and the momentum. Whoever will do, let's just hope that it will be a great sports evening and not something to regret about having viewed (or recorded, in my case)
 
This one is really gonna be a coin-flip. Max has a slightly better position due to more GP wins this season, but the differences are so small, it's really going to be anyones game. It'll all depend on the race. If there are red flags or safetycars that lead tactical decissions that fail or succeed.... If it'll be either Max or Lewis, for both it's gonna be a well earned championship and they are by far the best drivers at the moment.
 
Aaaaah my wife invited also my mother in law to watch the battle between Lewis and Max together as a family. Why? please tell me why? That will be the toughest battle to win (for me). You can imagine all the questions they fire at me.

==

May the best one win. Written many times: last lap, last corner! And to all the F1 fans: ENJOY the race weekend!

I hope Max but my feeling says Lewis
 
Premium
The straight line speed of the Merc under Hamilton with that mega Merc engine will see him take this I believe.

I personally would love Max to win (would make a nice change) and take the championship… but either is ok with me as they have both driven like they are in a different formula than the rest.
 
Last edited:
I'm completely torn down the middle here.

On the on hand I really do want to see Hamilton, my fellow countryman, become the greatest of all time in terms to championship wins....

But I also really want the young upstart to take the wind out of Hamilton's sails, and take his first well deserved championship.
I feel exactly the same way. I just hope it's a clean fight.
 
OverTake
Premium
I just hope they don't collide again.
That will be the interesting thing this race. Max can afford all the possible risk when battling directly with Hamilton. IF they both go off he'll win the championship, Lewis on the other hand can't afford too many risks in a duel with his rival as he might be jeopardizing the WDC.

What do you guys think will be the roles for Bottas and Perez (Gasly & Yuki)?
 
OverTake
Premium
Yeahh Hamilton was a whooping 0.8 km/h faster in Jeddah, even in Bazil he wasn't that fast. I really don't know why everyone is jumping on the Horner Mercedes Mega engine bandwagon.
There are more things than just pure top speed. It are often the Haas drivers at the top half of the speedtrap sheets. Not because of their engines but the lack of downforce.

Those with a massive amount of downforce (Mercedes and RBRB) and still have reasonable amount of speed will be the fastest allround. Comparing both Max and Lewis it was the latter being faster on all recent tracks.
 
Looking at whole season and both drivers and teams: Max
Looking at this 1 race championship and current state of teams: Lewis
Hopeful F1 fan to return to watching in following years: no crash, or Pirrelli tyre tricks and no stewards bad decision influencing the title.

EDIT: forgot the bolded part
 
Last edited:
Premium
I think HAM will get his 8th title just because he got the momentum on his side and he knows how to win titles. Also the Merc is unstoppable since several races. However I’d like to see VES claim his first title just because he had a great season (not so much the last 3 races though) and it’s good to see another champion than HAM.
 
Premium
Well either way what a great season, honestly I'd like Lewis to grab the 8th title and maybe retire.

I do think it's time someone else to win the WDC and I'll be happy with either result.

Not really a max fan but I think he does deserve to win after a great year. <mod-edit: removed>

Good luck to both and let's hope it's a clean fair race. My heart will be in my mouth by the end no doubt and I'm not getting any younger and would prefer not to have a coronary while watching

Would love to see lando, Riccardo, Russell have more chances next year. Looking forward to the new cars. Also pleased to see albon back in F1.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

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