2023 Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2023.jpg

Who are you supporting in the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?

  • Max Verstappen

    Votes: 55 29.7%
  • Sergio Perez

    Votes: 5 2.7%
  • Lando Norris

    Votes: 13 7.0%
  • Oscar Piastri

    Votes: 5 2.7%
  • Lewis Hamilton

    Votes: 27 14.6%
  • George Russell

    Votes: 1 0.5%
  • Charles Leclerc

    Votes: 29 15.7%
  • Carlos Sainz

    Votes: 2 1.1%
  • Fernando Alonso

    Votes: 24 13.0%
  • Lance Stroll

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Pierre Gasly

    Votes: 2 1.1%
  • Esteban Ocon

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Alex Albon

    Votes: 1 0.5%
  • Logan Sargeant

    Votes: 1 0.5%
  • Valtteri Bottas

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • Guanyu Zhou

    Votes: 1 0.5%
  • Kevin Magnussen

    Votes: 1 0.5%
  • Nico Hulkenberg

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • Yuki Tsunoda

    Votes: 7 3.8%
  • Daniel Ricciardo

    Votes: 5 2.7%

  • Total voters
    185
Finally. After 22 events, one cancellation, much action and plenty of controversy, the 2023 Formula One season approaches the winter break as Abu Dhabi is the last GP of the year. Here is what to keep your eye on this weekend.

Image credit: Mercedes AMG F1 Press Site

Yes, you read that right. This Formula One season comes to an end this weekend as the paddock heads to Yas Marina. The Abu Dhabi GP will once again put an end to the year, with driver, team personnel and media surely all looking forward to some down time.

But before that time off, the top 20 drivers in the world have to go through three more Practice sessions, a Qualifying hour and a Grand Prix. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is rarely an exciting event, but the sunset race time and bright lights around the circuit make it a show. With few chances to take in live motorsport after this weekend, make sure to tune in. Here is what you will see if you do.

Championship Standings On The Line​

For those living under a pile of rocks, the 2023 F1 season has not been a competitive marvel at the front of the field. The title was wrapped up in Qatar and Perez claimed P2 in the championship last time out.

F1 Championship StandingsPoints
Max Verstappen549
Sergio Perez273
Lewis Hamilton232
Carlos Sainz200
Fernando Alonso200
Lando Norris195
Charles Leclerc188
George Russell160

However, fourth to seventh in the standings are covered by just 12 points with Sainz and Alonso level on points, Norris five behind and Leclerc only just trailing. Whilst there is little prize money on offer, each driver will want to come out on top. This will provide them with confidence and motivation into next year. Expect this fight to be immensely tight all weekend, and a big talking point.

Sandwiching this battle are the two Mercedes drivers. This means that Mercedes and Ferrari are separated by just five points in the Constructors' Standings. According to sources, the difference in cash reward between P2 and P3 in the Manufacturers' Standings is $9 million. Certainly nothing to scoff at, both teams will be pushing to the maximum for the additional funds. Make sure to keep an eye on all four drivers involved. With such a small gap, the slightest position change could be crucial.


Aside from the F1 action, Formula 2 also returns this weekend. With intense action at every opportunity, the racing is sure to be close. But with the championship still not sealed, the Théo Pourchaire and Frederik Vesti fight will be close. There is admittedly a 25-point difference between the two, but with 39 points available across the weekend, keep your eyes on the series.

Fatigue Playing Its Part?​

Earlier this year, extreme weather conditions saw the cancellation of the San Marino GP. But despite the schedule missing a race, the 2023 season has been a record-breaking calendar in terms of length. Never in the history of the sport have there been 23 rounds in a season.

Yas Marina Circuit Track Map.jpg


With back-to-back events more prominent than ever, teams, drivers and everyone involved are all certainly exhausted. With the promise of some downtime on the horizon, the paddock will be anxious to get the event over with. Potential rushing, or fatigue could well lead to some mistakes.

Be it drivers dropping the car in the later sessions, or mechanics with finger trouble resulting in slow pitstops. Small issues could well turn the race on its head. That being said, these are the best drivers and mechanics in the world. So surely mistake is not a word in their dictionaries.

Abu Dhabi GP in F1 23​

As sim racers, we all love the idea of putting ourselves behind the wheel of real world cars. Whilst it is far from the simulation many would hope for, F1 23 is certainly one of the best ways of recreating the 2023 Abu Dhabi GP.


Yesterday, EA Sports unveiled the first of its F1 Scenarios for the weekend. To get yourself into the mood of F1 racing at Yas Marina, try and retain Bottas' chance at a podium. After the weekend, one is sure to discover more Scenarios and F1 Replay modes. Currently, fans can recreate the top moments of last weekend's Las Vegas GP.

Who are you rooting for in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?
About author
Angus Martin
Motorsport gets my blood pumping more than anything else. Be it physical or virtual, I'm down to bang doors.

Comments

Premium
I changed my Poll vote from Fernando to Charles. I want Ferrari to get 2nd in the WCC. Two Ferraris drivers on the podium with a Red Bull or McLaren driver will make my day :)
 
Mmh unusual sessions today, with the rookies in the fp1 and then a chaotic fp2 red flagged all the time xD, hope to see a great race like in las vegas
 
I really hope that Checo does well here both tomorrow in qualifying, and indeed for the race, his mind deserves a little 'up' time! life cannot be easy against Max and Max certainly isn't gonna hand him a win for being a good team mate... the only way Checo will win is for something to be out of Verstappen's control.
so, yes, I'd like to see Max have a problem so he can charge through the field (that's always nice to see... for some) and Checo grab a pole and have a go on the top step again.

And 'all you sky pundits' for goodness sake stop inventing stories about Verstappen's new teamie... if Red bull put two Mega Alpha's in the squad it will detonate, look at Hamilton/Alonso, Senna/Prost, Hamilton/Rosberg
 
I think they made wrong choice not giving Liam the ride.
Yuka has not changed, just recently he spat the dummy and threw the headrest out of the car.
Throwing anything is illegal anytime, how after so many races in F1 how does he not get this ?
Tost 2021 his radio outbursts " hurt the team "
That is well and good if RB want to put their tail between their legs but an emotional driver on track can be a danger to others.

FIA should direct him to get counselling if they haven't already.
 
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The commentators don't get Max still.
They think he is being mister goody too shoes for calling out cars slow to get out of the pits after he did the very same thing last few races I think ?
In other words calling him out as a hypocrite.
It is payback for any driver complained when he did it, you want to tattle tale okay. lol
George is funny says Max crossed the line passing me pit exit.
Wasn't it George that ignored the rule at Interlagos given to him by officials to move fully to the left to let cars past at pit exit ? Instead he stayed within the white lines and blocked a car. Anyway nothing in the rules said Max could not do what he did, simple as that.
Max - 2 George - 0

Shows how motivatred he is already thinking on next year, squeezing every advantage, pushing the limits., breaking records and taking names.
Hypocrite ? Hardly.
 
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I agree with you Durgen! Yuki can drive a car very fast and is simply a top talent, but he has to learn to cool down. but he is a nice guy and his helmet in tribute to Frans Tost is nice too.

I wish him the best, but I don't see him continuing to grow alongside Verstappen in 2025
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Yeah agree he is great for the sport but comes a time after so long you must tow the line.

Then I think about the FIA need to be accountable first.
I am against this whole tattle tale system they have going on.
Having drivers and teams implicate others in realtime is wrong.
Their team radio should not be heard so they are not seen as trying to influence desicions.
That has never been more clear then RB and Mercedes at this race a few years ago.

FIA collect every shred of data, audio and video from entire weekends.
It should be their responsibility to find fault. If incidents go unseen then tough.
Like many sports it happens all the time, many things go unsighted.
 
Oh after the free practice sessions, i didn't expect max to grab the pole, great lap, also lando wasted his chance with that mistake, kudos to charles. Hopefully we'll see a nice race?!
 
All this backing up for a clean lap has really got to stop, the whole qualifying thing has become a joke, nobody moves until the last few mins and then they all bolt out together... and slow down tripping each other up, the tyres need a specific operating window, the battery pack needs to recharge, the driver needs to find space, the engineer needs to tell the driver what to do... it's dumb,
I used to like it better when the drivers would go out and bang in lap after lap for the hour, and a fastest time would emerge, better still, one Friday practice then parc ferme, then first qualifying on Friday Second qualifying Saturday, combined fastest times orders the gird, and if one of the days was 'inclement' good for those that did a better overall job.
 
Yet after all that they still find time to give detailed reports on every car that exceeded limits every corner.
Personally I don't think we ( public) should hear from drivers at all during sessions, it's selective and adds nothing.

So they banned passing in the tunnel lol but at Interlagos you can pass flat as. :O_o:
Max at his "Schumacher" best, always finding new ways to upset the apple cart :x3:
 
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I feel like Lewis checked out last week in Las Vegas. He doesn't seem to be putting anymore effort into driving that car this year. His quali effort today was weak at best. I don't think it's the car. He should just let Mick finish things off.
 
...and Ban team radio, it's become a selling point for the for sky to "listen in to the whinges" give em a pit board, and let the driver work out what's best for him.
 
I watched quallie from torrent and it had no driver or team radio whatsoever, not even at cool down ? deja vu lol

Anyway was much better, more relaxing and you hear more engine.
Think I have to give Sky the flick.

P.S. Oh wait it is Sky lol but nothing from car or pitwall ?
 
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Hahaha, De Bruyne looking so confused when the Sky F1 team walked away and left him with the mic in his hand xD

lol, they rolled the wrong into "welcome to the buy Dhabi Qualifying", wait what?!
 
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I'll put DoD to Leclerc, I've scolded him a few times for putting it in the wall but this one was his, Lando was close as was Max... superb Doughnuts too.
As for the Race, I enjoyed it immensely. (I'll not state the results though for those that watch it later.
 
So what is it...mug Checo on the last corner (FA/CL) or help him on the last lap (MV/CL) xD

Also, good luck on him finishing less then half the point away from his team mate, but already stated before the last race that he was going for the championship next year :roflmao:
 
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Author
Angus Martin
Article read time
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Shifting method

  • I use whatever the car has in real life*

  • I always use paddleshift

  • I always use sequential

  • I always use H-shifter

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