Key moments to watch for in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Published on 5 December 2024 at 15:42

It’s already the final race of the year, and below we highlight a few storylines to keep an eye on during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend.

Battle between Ferrari and Mclaren

With just one race to go and a 21-point gap between Ferrari and McLaren, both teams still have a shot at the championship. Two historic teams ready to battle it out against each other. Will McLaren stay on top, or can Ferrari still manage to overtake them?

In addition to the two teams battling for the Constructors' Championship, Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris are also fighting for second place in the Drivers' Championship.

Constructor titles Ferrari: 1961 , 1964 , 1975 , 1976 , 1977 , 1979 , 1982 , 1983 , 1999 , 2000 , 2001 , 2002 , 2003 , 2004 , 2007 , 2008

Constructor titles Mclaren:  1974 , 1984 , 1985 , 1988 , 1989 , 1990 , 1991 , 1998

How does Mclaren become Champion?

McLaren’s path to the championship in Abu Dhabi is straightforward. A total of 44 points is available if a team achieves a one-two finish and secures the fastest lap bonus.

To clinch the title, McLaren needs Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to score at least 24 points. If Ferrari doesn’t win the race, McLaren only requires 13 points to secure the championship.

The title is guaranteed if both McLaren cars finish in the top four. Alternatively, a race win from either driver would seal the deal.

Ferrari failing to place on the podium would significantly ease McLaren’s challenge, allowing them to clinch the title even with a less-than-perfect performance.

How does Ferrari become champion?

Ferrari needs to score at least 22 points to keep their championship hopes alive. Ideally, this would require Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz to win the race, with the other driver also finishing on the podium, to put significant pressure on McLaren.

With McLaren holding a 21-point lead, Ferrari must outscore them by 21 points if they win the race, or by 22 points if they don’t.

Such a performance has only happened once this season—at the United States Grand Prix—where Ferrari secured a one-two finish while McLaren placed fourth and fifth.

Formula 2 and F1 Academy chapionship battles

It’s not just in Formula 1 where the excitement is building; the drama continues in both Formula 2 and the F1 Academy.

F1 Academy champion

Last week in Qatar, Abbi Pulling celebrated her championship victory. However, the title has since been taken away due to a race in Qatar being postponed to Abu Dhabi. This rescheduling includes an additional qualifying session, increasing the points available. As a result, Pulling could lose the championship by just one point. Definitely a battle worth watching!

Formula 2 champion

In Formula 2, the fight is just as intense. Championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto holds 188.5 points, with Isack Hadjar close behind at 188 points. The title could be decided by a mere 0.5 points. But there’s more than just the championship at stake—Bortoleto already has an F1 seat secured for 2025, while Red Bull driver Hadjar does not. With Red Bull Racing yet to finalize its 2025 lineup, Hadjar will be eager to make his mark.

Last races with their current team

Lewis Hamilton

A major milestone in the career of Lewis Hamilton—and in Formula 1 history—has been confirmed. Earlier this year, it was announced that the seven-time world champion will be leaving his Mercedes family. The British driver is trading the German team for Ferrari, joining the legendary Italian outfit and their passionate Tifosi. As Sebastian Vettel once said, “Everyone is a Ferrari fan,” and Hamilton, too, has long dreamed of racing in red before ending his career. This weekend will mark his final race with Mercedes.

Carlos Sainz

Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, however, comes at a cost—Carlos Sainz will be stepping aside to make room. Fortunately, Sainz has secured a new seat for the 2025 season with Williams, where he will replace Franco Colapinto and race alongside Alex Albon. While this move may seem like a step down, Williams has ambitious plans for 2026, hinting at a bright future ahead.

Nico Hulkenberg

German driver Nico Hülkenberg will also be switching teams. Currently racing for Haas, he will compete in his final race with the team this weekend. Next year, he’ll make the move to Kick Sauber, the team set to become Audi in the future.

He won’t be the only new face in the lineup—Hülkenberg will partner with current Formula 2 driver Gabriel Bortoleto next season.

Last races without a seat for 2025

Many drivers are switching teams, but several have failed to secure a seat for the 2025 Formula 1 season. Starting with Franco Colapinto, who began his F1 career this year by replacing Logan Sargeant mid-season. Despite showing good results, he hasn’t been signed for the 2025 season, although he has been frequently discussed.

We will also be saying goodbye to Valtteri Bottas, a well-known figure in the sport. This year marks his 13th season, with 10 wins and 20 pole positions—certainly a driver not to be forgotten. His future plans remain unclear at this point.

Bottas is not the only one leaving Kick Sauber. The team will have an entirely new lineup next year, with Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg. This means that Zhou Guanhyu will be leaving the team. He’s had three solid seasons but hasn’t stood out enough to keep his seat.

Noteworthy Storylines

During the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, you'll see a new face: Jack Doohan, who will make his debut with Alpine. Doohan is set to race alongside Pierre Gasly for Alpine in the 2025 season, but his F1 journey begins this weekend. Esteban Ocon unexpectedly raced his final Grand Prix in Qatar, so Doohan will be taking his place and driving for Alpine this weekend.

Another interesting story involves the Leclerc brothers. Charles Leclerc’s younger brother will take to the track this weekend, driving alongside his older brother at Ferrari. He will participate in the first free practice session for Ferrari. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz will race his final Grand Prix with the team for the rest of the weekend.

This year, we saw Franco Colapinto and Liam Lawson take over the seats of Daniel Ricciardo and Logan Sargeant, but neither driver has secured a contract for the 2025 season yet.

However, the chances are almost 100% that Liam Lawson will have a seat within the Red Bull family. The only question is which one. Although Sergio Pérez’s 2025 contract has been confirmed, Red Bull will hold discussions after Abu Dhabi on how they will allocate seats within both the Red Bull and the Visa Cash App RB teams. Therefore, there is a possibility that Lawson could end up in the main Red Bull team, but he is also likely to be placed at AlphaTauri. Officially, though, the seat at AlphaTauri is still open.

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