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Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Formula One live blog

26th November, 2017
Where: Yas Marina Circuit
When: 12am AEDT
Number of times held: 8
First held: 2009
Most wins (drivers): Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel (3)
Most wins (constructors): Mercedes (3), Red Bull (3)
Circuit length: 5.554km
Race length: 305.470km
Laps: 55
(Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool)
Roar Guru
26th November, 2017
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Formula One gears up for one final dance in 2017, with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix set to see the curtain fall on yet another season. Join The Roar for a live blog of the race, starting from 12am AEDT.

Both championships have already been decided, with Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes AMG team collecting the silverware, though Abu Dhabi represents one final chance to regain pride for some.

There will be 55 laps available for the likes of Ferrari, Red Bull, or Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas to claim top honours.

Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel share three wins apiece in Abu Dhabi, with the last three events having been won by the Silver Arrows. Ferrari meanwhile have yet to win here, whilst their driver Kimi Räikkönen is the only other winner amidst the field.

Abu Dhabi’s track in question is the technical 5.5km Yas Marina circuit, situated on the manmade colossus that is Yas Island. This race is unique to Formula One in that it is started in the twilight and finishes in the darkness.

Bottas for the first time in his career finds himself on pole position for consecutive races, heading off his teammate Hamilton.

Championship runner-up in Vettel qualified third, being unable to challenge the mighty Mercs. The German leads Daniel Ricciardo on the second row, who was able to split the Ferraris.

There are critical battles to look out for in the mid-field however, with 6-points separating Toro Rosso, Renault and Haas in the constructor’s championship for sixth position.

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In the driver’s standings, Felipe Massa in his final grand prix finds himself fighting to keep tenth place with Williams teammate Lance Stroll and Nico Hulkenberg.

It is the final race also for Toro Rosso and Renault as partners, as with McLaren and Honda – with the two teams swapping engine suppliers in 2018.

For Renault crucially, Hulkenberg will start from seventh, whilst Fernando Alonso in the McLaren will have the familiar company of Carlos Sainz, starting just outside the top ten.

Can Bottas then hold off the challenge of Hamilton and the Ferraris to win his third race of the season? Or will the experienced hands of Vettel and 2017 world champion end up ahead?

Tune in on The Roar for live blog coverage of the Abu Dhabi finale from 12am AEDT, as we get set to farewell another season of Formula One.

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