2022 Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Haas Aston Martin Abu Dhabi.jpg
One race remains in the 2022 F1 season, as the field takes on Yas Marina and says goodbye to certain drivers.

Last year's Abu Dhabi grand prix was the exciting and controversial end to an epic battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. No such drama exists entering the 2022 race, but there are plenty of things to watch for in this weekend's race.

The final ranking of the drivers' standings is still to be decided, and drivers will be battling fiercely one last time to edge out their season rivals. The most high profile of these battles will be between Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez, who enter the race tied for 2nd in the standings with 290 points each. Controversy surrounding team orders with teammate Verstappen at the Sao Paulo grand prix prevented Perez from entering this race with an advantage.

This may also be our last opportunity to see certain drivers in an F1 car. Mick Schumacher, Nicholas Latifi and Daniel Ricciardo all have uncertain futures in the sport. Further, this will be Sebastian Vettel's final race in F1, as the 4-time champion is retiring.

A 1-2 finish by Mercedes in Brazil showed the world that the Silver Arrows could once again be competitive when the 2023 season begins, though that winning pace has come far too late for this season.

Let us know in the comments below whether you enjoyed this season of F1. What was your favourite moment, if any?

Photo credit: Haas F1
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Mike Smith
I have been obsessed with sim racing and racing games since the 1980's. My first taste of live auto racing was in 1988, and I couldn't get enough ever since. Lead writer for RaceDepartment, and owner of SimRacing604 and its YouTube channel. Favourite sims include Assetto Corsa Competizione, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2, Automobilista 2, DiRT Rally 2 - On Twitter as @simracing604

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Premium
So, 2023,
: Red Bull will get their 1-2
: Leclerc will finally realise it's pointless asking the team... anything
: Norris will get to the top step
: The Hulk will be best buddies with KMag, and the Haas will move up the grid for regular Q3 appearances
: Lewis and George will challenge Ferrari, but Lewis will still whinge about Verstappen and white lines
: Alonso will benefit from Vettel's input this year... and claim the glory.
: And meanwhile Checo will find his bags packed outside the hotel at the season finale.
while Horner sings "Oh Danny Boy..."
 
After the last race of the season:
Max 149 points more then Checo,
Lewis 35 points less then George.

This also says something, Isn’t it time for Lewis to retire?
Why don't you go tell him that.
Christ!
Clueless.
 
Premium
After the last race of the season:
Max 149 points more then Checo,
Lewis 35 points less then George.

This also says something, Isn’t it time for Lewis to retire?

Well, when Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton had three years together at McLaren, JB outscored LH 672 to 657, and who retired? and who went on to a further 6 WDC's?

But, Georgie boy is reeeally good, and I think a few seasons with Hamilton will show him to be in the same league as Verstappen, Vettel, Hamilton and Michael Shooomakker!

PS, I know you'll hate me for it but.
: then is like a timepoint "and then he overtook"
: than is instead of, "rather than overtake, he sat behind"
 
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I can see why Max should have played the team game a bit more but at the same time he's not responsible for Perez's results for the majority of the season. In fact Perez benefitted a number of points by Max's retirements. If Perez was faster he wouldn't have been scrambling for points at the end.
 
George won't be better than Lewis next year. Why not, you ask. Let me tell you.

Lewis was developing a bad car this year. George had no reference point on what the Merc should have been able to do other than that one race he subbed for Lewis. So he was free to drive the car as is. Lewis is still the Merc money maker just like Max is at Red Bull. Near the end of the season, George was behind Lewis in performance. He should have beaten Lewis by a lot more, considering the lead he started out with.

Lewis has had his bad year. He now knows what the car needs. Toto has said, " there will be a DNA change". Guess which driver is going to be instrumental in that DNA change.

Checko is driving the car Max likes. Bottas drove the car Lewis likes. George will have to adapt to the platform Lewis believes will be a winner. That is how it goes in most teams. If George adapts well, he will have a good year. If not, he will be Albon II.
 
I wouldn't bet on Hamilton making a come back next year. Even the greatest eventually lose their magic, whatever the sport. And I doubt Mercedes will develop a car without taking Russell's feedback. Bottas or Rosberg never complained the car was developped for Hamilton only. It's hard to imagine them starting doing so when Hamilton can retire at any time.
 
Premium
Without wishing to come across as as Max hater, I was very disappointed in the way his intention to help Checo get second in the WDC actually panned out at Abu Dhabi.

If I'd been in Max's place then I would have let Checo past at the start and ran just fast enough to hold up the cars behind and keep second place.

Failing that he could have eased off at the end to hold up Leclerc so Checo could catch. Instead he increased his lead which meant the Ferrari could run flat out to evade Perez.
Perez was just over 1.3s behind Leclerc at the end.
And Max's fastest lap was 54 - just four to go - so he was pushing at the end of the race too.

And for those that have Perez wasn't fast enough on Sunday he took two pit stops to Max and Charles one.
In fact out of the "top guys" only Perez, Russell, Sainz and Norris took two stops - I guess Norris perhaps to get fastest lap? - but the others all pitted on lap 15 (Sainz on 17) so it seems likely that they were on a two stop plan anyway.
 
Premium
And for those that have Perez wasn't fast enough on Sunday he took two pit stops to Max and Charles one.
Would I blow your mind if I told you that Perez was too slow through the whole season and that he wouldn't even be anywhere near 2nd in the WDC standings if Ferrari hadn't f'd up LeClercs tires and pit stops constantly?
 
Premium
If I'd been in Max's place then I would have let Checo past at the start and ran just fast enough to hold up the cars behind and keep second place.
And that's why he's in the car and you're on the forums, no Driver in their right minds would give up a RECORD 15th win to help someone else come second in the championship.
As for holding up Leclerc, that would be Russian roulette and a bit daft in the final few laps, look at Hamilton's 22 Silverstone finish.

Nah, The Brazilian episode was untidy, and to us, uncalled for, but, the reality is, Checo is in the same car and just didn't get enough points, God knows Leclerc threw the car off the circuit enough times and Ferrari couldn't decide what day it was, so really Checo had all the opportunities, but next year he'll be fighting for... his job
 
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If I'd been in Max's place then I would have let Checo past at the start and ran just fast enough to hold up the cars behind and keep second place.
Then Perez would have to be faster than Leclerc by a big margin. And should leave a gap with Leclerc and Verstappen to prevent that both are in the DRS zone of Perez.
It is the DRS-zone, that prevents the outcome you want to happen. Which is Max blocking Charles, while Sergio checks out.

What Max tried is to give Sergio several times a tow. So Sergio would not have Charles in his DRS when the DRS is activated.

And it could have worked. This strategy. But:
  • Sergio ruined his first set, so he had to pit earlier
  • He overshot the chicane after passing
  • He overtook Hamilton in the first DRS-zone, while he should have waited for the second one. A lap later he did exactly how he should have done a lap earlier.
These errors costed him a few seconds. And he lost it with 1,2 seconds.
 

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