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The Formula One season finale is upon us and while the world championships have been wrapped up in previous rounds, that end of term feeling has gripped everyone given the group of drivers that will be racing in their final Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. As always, The Roar will have live blog coverage of the race from 11:50pm AEDT.
Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel hangs up his helmet after 58 laps at the Yas Marina Circuit, while Mick Schumacher and Nicholas Latifi are without drives for 2022. It also shapes to be Daniel Ricciardo’s final grand prix outing, with a reserve driver role at Red Bull beckoning for the Aussie.
The Yas Marina Circuit underwent significant reprofiling in its circuit characteristics, ahead of the controversial title decider in 2021. Those changes, to allow for closer racing, may bear fruit with the 2022 generation cars that can indeed follow the car ahead more closely.
With Pirelli’s softest compounds and the increased tyre wear seen in the 2022-spec rubber, there could be some intriguing strategic battles play out across the grid.
Constructor’s champions in Red Bull have been the form team so far and with their front-row lockout in qualifying, it suggests that they’ll be strong in the race too. Max Verstappen took a third straight pole at the venue, from Sergio Perez.
Both the second and third rows of the grid were locked out in formation by Ferrari and Mercedes. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is still in pursuit of a victory this season, in order to uphold his record of winning a race in every season he has raced in. That looks a tall order from fifth.
Tension between Red Bull teammates came to the fore at Interlagos, when Verstappen refused to let Perez pass for sixth to boost his positioning in the battle for second in the standings. The Mexican and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc are tied on points, so whoever outscores the other gets that caveat.
Minor points placings in the constructor’s championship also can still unfold, between Alfa Romeo and Aston Martin for sixth – with 5-points separating them. As well as Haas and AlphaTauri for eighth and only two points the margin there.
Will Verstappen and Red Bull cap off a stellar season with a record fifteenth win of the season, or can an outside force give the neutrals something to look forward to going into the 2023 season?
Lights out: 12am (AEDT)
Venue: Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi
TV: Fox Sports
Online: Kayo Sports, Foxtel
Grid
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull), 2. Sergio Perez (Red Bull), 3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), 4. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), 5. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), 6. George Russell (Mercedes), 7. Lando Norris (McLaren), 8. Esteban Ocon (Alpine), 9. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin), 10. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren), 11. Fernando Alonso (Alpine), 12. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri), 13. Mick Schumacher (Haas), 14. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), 15. Guanyu Zhou (Alfa Romeo), 16. Kevin Magnussen (Haas), 17. Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri), 18. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo), 19. Alexander Albon (Williams), 20. Nicholas Latifi (Williams)
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