2024 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix preview: Season’s remaining race
- The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is the ultimate race of the 2024 F1 season, which contains a document 24 races
- Crimson Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen has already claimed the 2024 Drivers’ title
- The battle for the 2024 Constructors’ title continues to be ongoing, with McLaren within the lead
The ultimate spherical of the 2024 Components 1 World Championship takes place this weekend in Abu Dhabi, however Crimson Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen was already topped this season’s champion in November on the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The battle for the Constructors’ title continues to be very a lot alive, with McLaren main and Ferrari a detailed second.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been held yearly since 2009, at all times on the Hermann Tilke-designed Yas Marina Circuit, which obtained some minor structure modifications in 2021 to enhance the motion. These modifications present extra overtaking alternatives and likewise enhance speeds and hundreds via some corners.
The circuit is one the place errors are expensive, because the partitions are shut, making the Security Automotive or a purple flag frequent occurrences. The observe measures 3.3 miles and contains a comparatively clean floor. This, mixed with a majority of flowing, high-speed corners, means stress on the tires is low.
Pirelli has nominated its three softest compounds consequently: the C3, C4, and C5. Drivers are likely to run a two-stop technique.
Yas Marina Circuit, residence of the Components 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
The climate forecast requires dry, heat situations all through the weekend. Nevertheless, like different races within the Center East, the Abu Dhabi race begins at twilight and runs into the night time to keep away from the warmth of the day. That presents a problem for engineers and drivers, who should adapt to modifications in tire and automotive conduct attributable to various ambient and observe temperatures.
Heading into Saturday’s qualifying session and Sunday’s race, Verstappen’s factors tally within the 2024 Drivers’ Championship stands at 429. McLaren’s Lando Norris is second with 349 factors, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc is third with 341 factors. Within the Constructors’ Championship, McLaren leads with 640 factors, Ferrari is second with 619 factors, and Crimson Bull is third with 581 factors.
Because the race closes out the season, it is going to be the final for Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, each of whom have been dismissed from Sauber. Franco Colapinto’s short-term seat at Williams will even be taken over by Carlos Sainz subsequent season. Like Colapinto, Liam Lawson additionally hasn’t been confirmed for a seat in 2025, although he’s broadly anticipated to both retain his present short-term seat at RB or to switch Sergio Perez at Crimson Bull.
Lewis Hamilton will even bid farewell to his Mercedes-Benz AMG crew, as he is set to be a part of Ferrari subsequent season. Hamilton’s whole profession has been powered by Mercedes energy items (even when at McLaren), and it was with Mercedes that he gained six of his seven world titles. Changing Hamilton at Mercedes will probably be newcomer Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
