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

Yeah seen that as well. Not a very strong sign imo that this race gets a special treatment with docking points.

What the FIA needs to do is make clear rules, be super consistent and firm all year long and you'll have no debate at the final GP of the year about this.
They could even look at sim racing. While sim racing can make unfair decisions because it's a fairly dumb system at least it's consistent, you cross the line you get punished.
 
I'm keen to think that the new track configuration really benefits the Merc, which has been the strongest car on the grid the last few weeks. Either way, both drivers have been so far clear of the rest of the field this season; either one will be a deserving champion. Hopefully its a good, clean race and doesn't end at T1.

Oh, and don't forget the other Trophy up for grabs this weekend ;).

overtakes.jpg
 
Premium
It just dawned on me that if Max wins the WDC, he will be
the very first FIA Formula 1 "Simracer" World Champion. :confused:
 
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  • Deleted member 379375

Lets hope Max heeds the warning and we have a good clean race and the best man/car/strategy wins
 
This article pretty much sums it up for me:

May Hamilton win his 8th WDC. Get in there Lewis!
not a Max fan (I am an Alonso fan, mostly), but I will copy and paste what David Perel tweeted this morning:

« This 'article' from @autosport is unreal. I cannot believe it was published. Low blow from a magazine/website I have read my whole life. We don't need this kind of bias going into one of the best title showdowns in F1 history. It is so unnecessary. »

I completely agree. Autosport has long been the unofficial « Hamilton Fan Club Newsletter », but this is really over the top. I don’t like the way Verstappen handles himself on the track, but I’ve never seen a magazine display such blatant favoritism.
 
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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.
D762EF5B-6D47-4FB3-B71A-6E9007625D58.png
 
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There is no problem with journalists and magazines being more favorable to a driver. I doubt the English press is unbiased and I doubt the Dutch press is unbiased. That's the way it is for every sport. Just look at the ballon d'or votes. :rolleyes:
 
« This 'article' from @autosport is unreal.»
Whether you like it or not, that article is based on facts. I can't help it that some people can't face facts.
but I’ve never seen a magazine display such blatant favoritism.
You should read some Dutch magazines. The orange fanboyism is really over the top.
Verstappen is imo a dirty driver and should not be rewarded with a WC.
 
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Whether you like it or not, that article is based on facts. I can't help it that some people can't face facts.

You should read some Dutch magazines. The orange fanboyism is really over the top.
Verstappen is imo a dirty driver and should not be rewarded with a WC.
Two wrongs don’t make one right…
 
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Any news about Pirelli saying that "because of different kerbs" they will need to increase pressures?
There was supposed to be meeting between them and Massi after FP2. I don't want to go into "theories" and I am okay to keep drivers safe but... They all did race simulations in FP2 and they survived, and know what tyres can take. Why changing pressures, with only FP3 remaining, which has nothing to show for race.
 
not a Max fan (I am an Alonso fan, mostly), but I will copy and paste what David Perel tweeted this morning:

« This 'article' from @autosport is unreal. I cannot believe it was published. Low blow from a magazine/website I have read my whole life. We don't need this kind of bias going into one of the best title showdowns in F1 history. It is so unnecessary. »

I completely agree. Autosport has long been the unofficial « Hamilton Fan Club Newsletter », but this is really over the top. I don’t like the way Verstappen handles himself on the track, but I’ve never seen a magazine display such blatant favoritism.
I don't think there's much impartial Jounalism in the world anymore.
 
UNFORTUNATELY, Hamilton should be champion, once again with life easier after Mercedes is again far superior.

In equivalence, we have already seen that other drivers manage to ride equal to or better than the overestimated one, Russell has already shown how easy it was to win 6 titles for Mercedes
 
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  • Deleted member 379375

"Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone "
Last weeks Max's wreckfest.."Oh just let them race".
 
Cringey drama & BS up front again probably, would be very glad to see someone else win the race.

Would be great to see the one who's most deserved a win this year get this race - Norris.
Driver of the year, who's had some bad luck.
 
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D
  • Deleted member 379375

Cringey drama & BS up front again probably, would be very glad to see someone else win the race.

Would be great to see the one who's most deserved a win this year get this race - Norris.
Driver of the year, who's had some bad luck.
I'm a fan of Lando but as good as he has been Pierre Gasly
has been the standout for me.
 
"Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone Silverstone "
Last weeks Max's wreckfest.."Oh just let them race".
These Silverstone complainers still overlook important incidents previously on the crash:

From the start of the race Verstappen overtook Hamilton in T1 by 'leaving the track and gaining an advantage'. He exceeded tracklimits completely using the runoff area. In view of 'let them race' Verstappen got away with it, but actually he should've been forced to give the place back. After Brooklands in T6 Hamilton had to back out to avoid a collision, therefore Hamilton was committed to NOT back out again in Copse since he had the inside. The only blame for Hamilton was not hitting the apex, but Verstappen should've backed out since he was on the outside and had a faster car to have another go for the remaining 50 laps. He didn't lift and was harshly sent offtrack, so partly he's to blame himself. Cars on the outside always have the disadvantage to be sent offtrack in case it comes to a collision. With 7 years of experience in F1, Verstappen should've known by now. That's why I think he will never be WC, his mindset is wrong. If he would've accepted 2nd place by avoiding that crash, he would still be 18 points ahead of Hamilton. Just saying.
 
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Just looking forward to a weekend where at least the circumstances could make Abu Dhabi just a tad sexy for once.
 

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