2021 Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

2021 Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.jpg

Who will win the 2021 World Championship?

  • Max Verstappen

    Votes: 1,428 62.8%

  • Lewis Hamilton

    Votes: 845 37.2%
  • Total voters
    2,273
  • Poll closed .
Formula 1 enters the season finale of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with the driver’s championship leaders tied on points.

After a roller coaster ride of a season in F1, the final event of 2021 will be held in Abu Dhabi and will decide the championship battle between Max Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton. The two drivers are even on points entering the race.

Verstappen has won more races this year than Hamilton, so if the two end up finishing even after this race due to neither scoring points, the championship would go to Verstappen. Momentum seems to be with Hamilton after back-to-back-to-back race wins in Brazil, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, though points momentum has never lasted long this season.

The Yas Marina circuit is a location where both drivers have won in the past, with Hamilton having won numerous times at the track, and Verstappen being the most recent winner. The layout has been altered for 2021 to encourage more overtaking.

Looking away from the feature act of this race weekend, the constructor’s battle between Mercedes and Red Bull seems to be all but decided, with Mercedes holding a 28-point advantage. With Hamilton and Verstappen cancelling each other out on points, Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas have been involved in a lower profile battle than their teammates, but one full of surprises just the same.

This will also be the last time we see certain drivers in F1, or the last time we see them with their current teams. Perhaps the biggest departure is Kimi Räikkönen, who will retire from driving after Abu Dhabi. Kimi’s teammate, Antonio Giovinazzi, will also vacate his F1 seat after this season and will race in Formula E next year instead. One of the Alfa Romeo team seats will be filled by Bottas, who will finish this year third in the driver’s standings. His current seat at Mercedes will be filled by George Russell.

This looks to be an exciting finish to a season filled with drama and shocking moments. Let’s hope that we see the best from each of the championship contenders this weekend.

Qualification Results​

1Max VERSTAPPENRed Bull1:22.109
2Lewis HAMILTONMercedes1:22.480
3Lando NORRISMcLaren1:22.931
4Sergio PÉREZRed Bull1:22.947
5Carlos SAINZFerrari1:22.992
6Valtteri BOTTASMercedes1:23.036
7Charles LECLERCFerrari1:23.122
8Yuki TSUNODAAlpha Tauri1:23.220
9Esteban OCONAlpine1:23.389
10Daniel RICCIARDOMcLaren1:23.409
11Fernando ALONSOAlpine1:23.460
12Pierre GASLYAlpha Tauri1:24.043
13Lance STROLLAston Martin1:24.066
14Antonio GIOVINAZZIAlfa Romeo1:24.251
15Sebastian VETTELAston Martin1:24.305
16Nicholas LATIFIWilliams1:24.338
17George RUSSELLWilliams1:24.423
18Kimi RÄIKKÖNENAlfa Romeo1:24.779
19Mick SCHUMACHERHaas1:24.906
20Nikita MAZEPINHaas1:25.685

Race Results​

1Max VERSTAPPENRed BullLAP 58
2Lewis HAMILTONMercedes2.256
3Carlos SAINZFerrari5.173
4Yuki TSUNODAAlpha Tauri5.692
5Pierre GASLYAlpha Tauri6.531
6Valtteri BOTTASMercedes7.463
7Lando NORRISMcLaren59.2
8Fernando ALONSOAlpine61.708
9Esteban OCONAlpine64.026
10Charles LECLERCFerrari66.057
11Sebastian VETTELAston Martin67.527
12Daniel RICCIARDOMcLaren+1L
13Lance STROLLAston Martin+1L
14Mick SCHUMACHERHaas+1L
15Sergio PÉREZRed BullDNF
16Nicholas LATIFIWilliamsDNF
17Antonio GIOVINAZZIAlfa RomeoDNF
18George RUSSELLWilliamsDNF
19Kimi RÄIKKÖNENAlfa RomeoDNF

What are your thoughts on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix? Let us know on Twitter at @RaceDepartment or in the comments section below!

Photo credits: Red Bull Content Pool
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About author
Mike Smith
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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Comments

PickABetterUsername01
Damn, 64 pages, people trying still to push this "tainted championship" because of the safety car.

After more than a month, things are more clear, so here it is, doesn't matter if they allowed all cars to unlap themselves or some, Max would have overtook Hamilton anyway, the end. Masi should have reacted faster and allowed cars to unlap themselves a little earlier, that is all. The outcome would been the same but without the constant tears of "tainted" by a few.

Pérez defended against Hamilton for more than 1 lap, so Hamilton could have defended against Max as well. But Max was brave and got Hamilton by surprise in T5, never giving Hamilton any chance of preparing himself to defend after the long straights where EVERYONE was expecting him to attack.

It's funny how in the end, every little thing counts.

-Pérez dropping a 7s gap to 1s in Abu Dhabi was what kept Verstappen in Hamilton's VSC window;
-If Alonso did not hold Hamilton in Hungary, he would have won, getting an extra 7 points;
-Most teams/drivers would have given up after having half their car gone, but Verstappen not giving up in Hungary and finishing 9th was enough for 2 points.

So Hamilton would be 9 points ahead of Verstappen and could have won the championship even if he finished 2nd in Abu Dhabi, crazy...
 
D
"Formula 1's governing body is planning a new race-management structure in an attempt to avoid a repeat of the problems at last year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

There is widespread acceptance across the sport that race director Michael Masi failed to follow the rules correctly during a late safety-car period in the title-deciding race.
That resulted in Red Bull's Max Verstappen passing Lewis Hamilton on the final lap to beat the Mercedes driver to the title."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/60160969
 
GianmarcoFiduci
winston malcolm said:
"Formula 1's governing body is planning a new race-management structure in an attempt to avoid a repeat of the problems at last year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

There is widespread acceptance across the sport that race director Michael Masi failed to follow the rules correctly during a late safety-car period in the title-deciding race.
That resulted in Red Bull's Max Verstappen passing Lewis Hamilton on the final lap to beat the Mercedes driver to the title."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/60160969
Click to expand...
UK media really can't accept defeat, can they?
 
D
bastoner97 said:
UK media really can't accept defeat, can they?
Click to expand...
The truth is the truth no matter who is saying it.
The BBC beats an anonymous small boy in his bedroom as a reliable source for me anyway.
I get that people want it to go away. I also know they would be a lot more vocal if it happened to Max.
I'd be consistent and say it was wrong whoever lost out.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Damage Inc
winston malcolm said:
"Formula 1's governing body is planning a new race-management structure in an attempt to avoid a repeat of the problems at last year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

There is widespread acceptance across the sport that race director Michael Masi failed to follow the rules correctly during a late safety-car period in the title-deciding race.
That resulted in Red Bull's Max Verstappen passing Lewis Hamilton on the final lap to beat the Mercedes driver to the title."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/60160969
Click to expand...
Masi didn't fail to follow any rules though, and I agree the structure needs to be changed as it was too much for one man to do. FIA also need to clarify the agreement to NOT finish a race under SC, Either to properly legitmise it in the rules or to unambiguously say what Masi did was against the rules. They need to stop Team principals being able to contact the team over radio, it should be ONE way communication and teams querying matter should send a representative.
 
Damage Inc
winston malcolm said:
The truth is the truth no matter who is saying it.
The BBC beats an anonymous small boy in his bedroom as a reliable source for me anyway.
I get that people want it to go away. I also know they would be a lot more vocal if it happened to Max.
I'd be consistent and say it was wrong whoever lost out.
Click to expand...
BBC is a crock of shite, Biased Broadcasting Corporation. Leeching money from OAPs and paying twats bucket loads of cash.
 
JohannesK
winston malcolm said:
The truth is the truth no matter who is saying it.
The BBC beats an anonymous small boy in his bedroom as a reliable source for me anyway.
I get that people want it to go away. I also know they would be a lot more vocal if it happened to Max.
I'd be consistent and say it was wrong whoever lost out.
Click to expand...
Eh, the article is really more of an opinion piece with "An Insider said that1!!11!" sprinkled in. While understandably controversial the Abu Dhabi Incident isnt really as clear cut as either side makes it out to be. It was the right decision to race since that was agreed upon beforehand, but the way it was handled overall was poor.

Lol at people being more vocal, theres isnt really any way for people to be more vocal than they have been in the past month. Have you been on F1 Twitter/Instagram or even the threads on here since then? Either way it wouldve been very one-sided
 
Damage Inc
Fat-Alfie said:
You own a TV in the UK, you buy a licence. There's no 'leeching' to speak of.

Unless you're the biased one.
Click to expand...
People can choose to NOT watch the BBC, yet still have to pay the license. Tell me in what universe is that regarded as a fair system? How about everyone is charged a yearly rail tax...you "could" use the network, but your going to pay even if you don't. Don't say "it's a license to use a TV", because how many other broadcasters get a whiff of the money raised?

Everyone's biased. It's a human trait.
 
C
Damage Inc said:
Tell me in what universe is that regarded as a fair system?
Click to expand...

Damage Inc said:
How about everyone is charged a yearly rail tax...you "could" use the network, but your going to pay even if you don't.
Click to expand...
If you pay tax in the UK, you are already funding the rail network with your taxes, whether you get on a train or not, same with schools and a 101 other services. It is how taxation works. Depending on your age, you would have been paying a lot more of your taxes to the trains you never ride before privatization, but those businesses still get subsidized from your tax money today.

What is almost unique with the TV license, is that it allows for people who do not use a certain type of technology at all, a way to not pay that tax.

You have got this issue completely the wrong way around.
 
Last edited:
D
JohannesK said:
the Abu Dhabi Incident isnt really as clear cut as either side makes it out to be.
Click to expand...
I disagree, the rules have never been interpreted like that before. It was a complete farce and I'm sure has done a lot of damage to the sports reputation.
 
D
LeSunTzu said:
I don't see any point in discussing what's been debated to death. The first part of the article, about the pressure to change the race direction, is more interesting.
Click to expand...
Because just yesterday Horner was mentioned on PlanetF1 and basically regurgitated every point I've made in these threads. (hint: it was Mercedes fault for leaving Lew out there)
 
Damage Inc
CDwyer said:
If you pay tax in the UK, you are already funding the rail network with your taxes, whether you get on a train or not, same with schools and a 101 other services. It is how taxation works. Depending on your age, you would have been paying a lot more of your taxes to the trains you never ride before privatization, but those businesses still get subsidized from your tax money today.

What is almost unique with the TV license, is that it allows for people who do not use a certain type of technology at all, a way to not pay that tax.

You have got this issue completely the wrong way around.
Click to expand...
What you are failing to understand is that there's no "train tax", just "tax". The money raised from taxes goes in MANY areas. The BBC license fee does NOT...Capiche? So no I DON'T have it completely the wrong way round, you do.
 
Damage Inc
winston malcolm said:
I disagree, the rules have never been interpreted like that before. It was a complete farce and I'm sure has done a lot of damage to the sports reputation.
Click to expand...
There's never been an agreement to not finish behind the SC whenever possible before either. That's the crux of the matter. It's the entire basis of Masi's decision making process that day. Without that agreement I doubt he'd have made the same decision. Overrall the idea is good (finishing a race behind the SC is an awful way to end a race) ,problem is the rules and regs were not updated sufficiently to facilitate the idea. Hopefully the FIA will clarify the situation going forward (god knows it NEEDS to).
 
JohannesK
winston malcolm said:
I disagree, the rules have never been interpreted like that before. It was a complete farce and I'm sure has done a lot of damage to the sports reputation.
Click to expand...
People say that so much but I'm sure when time comes the TV quotes won't reflect that
 
D
JohannesK said:
People say that so much but I'm sure when time comes the TV quotes won't reflect that
Click to expand...
We'll see but if people say that so much then the damage is done., it could have a chilling effect on anyone struggling with a decision whether or not to commit large resources to compete in F1.
 

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