After a long and arduous 21-race season, all roads have finally led to a thrilling championship decider between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Join The Roar for live scores and rolling updates of all the action from the UAE from 11:50pm (AEDT).
Events at the last grand prix in Saudi Arabia saw both drivers draw level on points coming into this finale at the Yas Marina Circuit, with the lion-like Verstappen ahead on countback of race wins.
The simple equation for either driver here – finish ahead of the other. Simple on paper, but given how and intense and complex this Formula One season has been, it would almost be remiss to dismiss one last twist during the coming 58-laps.
Since the 2020 race at Yas Marina which was won by a dominant Verstappen, the circuit has undergone some significant reprofiling – to aid with overtaking and the overall flow. The chicane at Turn 4 has been removed, with the Turn 5 hairpin made wider and Turns 11-14 have been completely remodelled into a banked left-hand hairpin.
Overall, these changes seemed to have favoured Mercedes and their car. Hamilton, a five-time victor at Yas Marina is also seeking a fourth consecutive win to secure what would be an unprecedented eighth title.
Mercedes also will need to score 17-points to clinch their eighth consecutive constructor’s championship. This rather makes it a tall order for Red Bull, who’ve not had any title win since 2013.
Verstappen took a sensational pole ahead of Hamilton, though unlike the Mercedes – starts on the soft compound tyre, while the Briton will be on the medium.
Lando Norris, despite McLaren’s chances of finishing third in the team’s standings looking slim – still split the top two from their teammates in third. Sergio Perez joins the McLaren driver on the second row, while Valtteri Bottas in his final Mercedes gig starts sixth.
Kimi Räikkönen ahead of his 350th and final grand prix will start from eighteenth as well, failing to get out of Q1 unlike teammate Antonio Giovinazzi, who’s also shifting to Formula E in 2022.
A two-stop strategy looks likely, as Pirelli have brought their softest range of tyres to the reprofiled circuit. The added loads from the higher-speeds have made rear-tyre wear greater as a result.
So who’ll emerge as the 2021 Formula One world champion? Tune in on The Roar from 11:50pm (AEDT) for live blog coverage of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Lights out: 12am (AEDT)
Venue: Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi
TV: Fox Sports
Online: Kayo Sports, Foxtel
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull), 2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), 3. Lando Norris (McLaren), 4. Sergio Perez (Red Bull), 5. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), 6. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes), 7. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), 8. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri), 9. Esteban Ocon (Alpine), 10. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren), 11. Fernando Alonso (Alpine), 12. Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri), 13. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), 14. Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo), 15. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin), 16. Nicholas Latifi (Williams), 17. George Russell (Williams), 18. Kimi Räikkönen (Alfa Romeo), 19. Mick Schumacher (Haas), 20. Nikita Mazepin (Haas)
andrew
Roar Rookie
Didn't see the race but I'm happy for Max, good on him, a deserved World Champion. Jawad, what's your take on Ricciardo's year, i think he's been disappointing. Except for his win at Monza he's been completely the no 2 driver at McLaren and I wonder if the bosses at McLaren will put up with another year like this year in 2022. I think Ricciardo's going to have really perform next year or 2022 could be his last at McLaren.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
His words after were class. Have to hand that to him. Left the moaning to his team
JGK
Roar Guru
Thanks for your work this season Jawad.
Damo
Guest
Conspiracy theory time, 2 words..... Liberty Media :silly:
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
:laughing:
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Well then, congratulations to Max Verstappen on his first F1 world championship. What a season that we have had and it ended, just the way the whole season has panned out. That too then wraps up this live blog and another season of F1 coverage. A great pleasure as always and now looking forward to 2022! Until then, thanks to The Roar and fellow Roarers. Be sure to keep an eye out for some season review pieces through the week as well, but until March next year - ciao!
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Thoughts on this race then Roarers?
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
-------- DRIVER'S -------- 395.5 - Max Verstappen 387.5 - Lewis Hamilton 226 - Valtteri Bottas 190 - Sergio Perez 164.5 - Carlos Sainz 160 - Lando Norris 159 - Charles Leclerc 115 - Daniel Ricciardo 110 - Pierre Gasly 81 -- Fernando Alonso 74 -- Esteban Ocon 43 -- Sebastian Vettel 34 -- Lance Stroll 32 -- Yuki Tsunoda 16 -- George Russell 10 -- Kimi Räikkönen 7 --- Nicholas Latifi 3 --- Antonio Giovinazzi 0 --- Mick Schumacher 0 --- Robert Kubica 0 --- Nikita Mazepin
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
----- CONSTRUCTOR'S ----- 613.5 - Mercedes AMG 585.5 - Red Bull Racing Honda 323.5 - Ferrari 275 - McLaren Mercedes 155 - Alpine 142 - Scuderia AlphaTauri 77 -- Aston Martin Racing 23 -- Williams Mercedes 13 -- Alfa Romeo Racing 0 --- Haas Ferrari
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
RACE REPORT An exhilarating conclusion to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix sees Max Verstappen claim victory and clinch a maiden Formula One world championship at the death, with a late Safety Car causing controversy. Following Nicholas Latifi’s crash at Turn 14 on Lap 53, a Safety Car was deployed and lasted until the end of the penultimate lap of the race. Lewis Hamilton after a great start, led the majority of the race and had five lapped cars between himself and his title rival. Initially it was thought that lapped cars wouldn’t be allowed to unlap themselves, however a late call from Race Control allowed Verstappen on softs to restart on the final lap just behind the Mercedes. What ensued then was a final lap battle for the ages, with the Dutchman making the championship winning move at the Turn 5 hairpin to move into the lead. Verstappen, who claimed pole ahead of the final race, lost the lead due to a tardy start and spent the race in arrears of Hamilton and the dominant pace of his Mercedes. At Turn 6 on the first lap, there were shades of Brazil Turn 4 again as Hamilton toured the run-off to rejoin the track and Verstappen taking the risky lunge. Positioned were unchanged, as the stewards opted that no investigation was necessary. After the first round of stops, Sergio Perez was employed to play the team game and held up Hamilton briefly – to allow his Red Bull teammate to close up. Though such was the pace of the Mercedes, that the Briton pulled the gap out again. Even pitting for a second time for another fresh set of hard tyres, while Hamilton stayed out – made no difference for the 24-year old. Completing the podium was Carlos Sainz, who benefitted from former teammate Lando Norris dropping places at the start and then suffering from a slow puncture late – to drop back to seventh. Career best result for Yuki Tsunoda in fourth, ahead of teammate Pierre Gasly was still not enough for AlphaTauri to beat Alpine for fifth in the constructor’s championship, but a positive end to their season. Valtteri Bottas in his Mercedes farewell also made a poor start and dropped places, only to recover to sixth. Though the points were enough for Mercedes to secure their eighth consecutive constructor’s title. Perez despite his earlier heroics, had to retire his Red Bull from a potential podium finish. Joining both Williams drivers and the Alfa Romeo duo on the sidelines – ending Kimi Räikkönen’s F1 career on a whimper.
JGK
Roar Guru
I thought his head was going to explode.
JGK
Roar Guru
Look, it was a fleeting moment of weakness on my part while he was hugging his dad and wiping away the tears.
Damo
Guest
I'm trying, it's not happening :laughing:
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
What a concept. People driving cars of similar capabilities to decide the best driver? It’ll never work
JGK
Roar Guru
And on top of it all, I’ve only just realised that Christian Horner is married to Ginger Spice.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I can’t believe it either. I’m so pleased the tax-dodging woke boy lost
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
RESULTS FROM THE 58-LAP ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX 1 M. Verstappen 2 L. Hamilton 3 C. Sainz 4 Y. Tsunoda 5 P. Gasly 6 V. Bottas 7 L. Norris 8 F. Alonso 9 E. Ocon 10 C. Leclerc 11 S. Vettel 12 D. Ricciardo 13 L. Stroll 14 M. Schumacher RET S. Perez RET N. Latifi RET A. Giovinazzi RET G. Russell RET K. Räikkönen
JGK
Roar Guru
I can’t believe I actually feel sorry for Lewis Hamilton.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
POST-RACE INTERVIEWS - Hosted by Jenson Button VERSTAPPEN - "It's unbelievable." "The whole race I kept trying." "Finally a bit of luck to me." "A big thank you to Checo." "I want to stay with this team forever." HAMILTON - "Firstly congratulations to Max and his team." "We gave it everything and we never gave up." SAINZ - "Definitely take it! After everything that unraveled in that race." "P5 in the championship, I took it all today." "We managed to keep it together and enjoyed it a lot."
Simon G
Roar Rookie
Look at how good this season this has been with 2 good teams. Hopefully over the coming years we can get 3 or 4 competitive constructors, that would be incredible to watch!