After 23 races, Formula 1 has reached the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
The constructors’ championship has gone right down to the wire, with the result of Sunday’s grand prix set to crown both McLaren or Ferrari because the winners who will take away an estimated $140 million (£106m) in prize cash.
The weekend will see an emotional finale for Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes earlier than his transfer to Ferrari for 2025. Similarly, Carlos Sainz will rejoice his final race with Ferrari earlier than he joins Williams in 2025. Esteban Ocon unknowingly took half in his final race for Alpine in Qatar as he’s changed by rookie Jack Doohan this weekend.
Finally, a handful of drivers are departing F1 on the finish of the season, together with Kevin Magnussen at Haas, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu at Sauber, whereas sources have told ESPN that Sergio Pérez will depart Red Bull on the finish of the season.
The forecast at Yas Marina is about to be sizzling and settled with excessive temperatures of 29°C and lows of 16°C.
Who will win the constructors championship?
As present leaders of the championship by 21 factors, McLaren are the most favourable for the title. With a most of 44 factors on supply on Sunday (first, second and quickest lap), for Ferrari to win the title they need to take a race one-two and hope McLaren both fail to attain or end with not less than one automobile sixth or beneath.
Latest information
Pérez is set to leave Red Bull on the finish of the 2024 season, sources have instructed ESPN.
F1 might increase to 12 groups now that General Motors brand Cadillac has been accepted to hitch the grid from 2026, in line with the FIA president.
Alpine’s Ocon has been replaced by Doohan for Abu Dhabi. Ocon insisted “this is not how I want things to end.”
Hamilton’s struggles at Mercedes aren’t giving his future employers Ferrari any concern, in line with group boss Fred Vasseur.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has instructed drivers to mind their own business after they requested the place cash from race fines was going and why senior figures had left the governing physique.
Circuit stats and historical past
In 2006, Yas Island, subsequent to the town of Abu Dhabi, was developed from a clean canvas, with the ambition of getting a racing circuit firmly on the roadmap. Three years later, at a reported value of $1.32 billion, Yas Marina Circuit joined the F1 calendar and has hosted grands prix yearly since.
The circuit has hosted extra season finales than some other in F1 historical past, with tense championship showdowns in 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2021, and it’s contracted to proceed as the ultimate race till 2030.
Laps: 58 laps of 5.2km. Total distance 306km.
Lap file: 1:26.103, Verstappen (2021)
Most wins: Hamilton with six (2011, 2014, 2016, 2018-2019). Of the present grid, Valtteri Bottas (2017), and Verstappen (2020-2023) have received right here.
Most poles: Hamilton with 5 (2009, 2012, 2016, 2018-2019). Of the present grid, Bottas (2017), and Verstappen (2020-2023) have taken pole right here.
What occurred final 12 months?
Verstappen secured his 19th victory of the year on the season finale, capping essentially the most dominant season by any driver within the sport’s historical past. George Russell completed runner-up with Charles Leclerc rounding off the rostrum as Mercedes saved Ferrari three factors at bay to safe second place within the constructors’ championship.
2:33
Sergio Perez ‘very doubtless’ to go away Red Bull
ESPN’s Nate Saunders says it is “very doubtless” that Sergio Perez will depart Red Bull on the conclusion of this 12 months’s championship.
Who’s going to win?
Strange issues occur on the remaining race of a season when a title is on the road, and circumstances might be made for McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull or Mercedes popping out victorious in Abu Dhabi.
Although Red Bull and Mercedes have shared victories on the final three races, their performances from session to session have been sporadic, whereas Ferrari and McLaren have been extra secure and have vehicles that needs to be higher suited to the Yas Marina structure.
However, the stress of the title struggle for Ferrari and McLaren might result in errors, that means Verstappen is our decide to benefit from the strain within the constructors’ championship and safe his tenth victory of his championship-winning season.
How to observe the GP
Watch on ESPNEWS and ESPN+ (U.S. solely) — view the schedule.
Live broadcast protection within the U.Ok. is on Sky Sports F1 and BBC Radio 5 Live.
For information, evaluation and updates, follow the coverage with ESPN’s F1 team Nate Saunders and Laurence Edmondson at Yas Marina and on social media.
Friday
Free follow one: 09:30-10:30 GMT
Free follow two: 13:00-14:00 GMT
Saturday
Free follow three: 10:30-11:30 GMT
Qualifying: 14:00-15:00 GMT
Sunday
Race begins: 13:00 GMT.
