Here we go then: get ready for the biggest race in years!
The Burning Questions
Very simply, who will be the 2021 World Champion?
And can Red Bull overturn a huge deficit to Mercedes in the Constructors’ Championship?
What will Kimi say in his inevitable Driver of the Day interview?
The Track
The Stats
- Track Length: 5.281 km
- Laps: 58
- Race Distance: 306.183 km
- Maximum Speed: 322 km/h
- Lap Time at Full Throttle: 64%
- First Grand Prix: 2009
- Race Lap Record: Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 2019 | 1:39.283
- Outright Lap Record: Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 2019 | 1:34.779
- Most Driver Wins: Lewis Hamilton | 2011, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019
- Most Constructor Wins: Mercedes | 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
The Trivia
- A record four drivers – Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel and Hamilton – were in contention for the World Drivers’ Championship coming into the decider at Yas Marina in 2010
- The track has a number of unique features: a tunnel is part of the pit-lane exit and the Yas Viceroy Hotel straddles the circuit between turns 18-19.
- Yas Marina has an advanced track design with six different configurations to suit different racing series
- Red Bull have never failed to get both of their cars through to the final part of qualifying at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
The Weather
The Quotes
Lewis Hamilton | “Honestly I think it’s such a hard job that the stewards have and Michael [Masi] has, and they have done an amazing job given everything that is thrown at them, every scenario is always different. Whether you agree with every decision or not, they have such a tough job.”
Max Verstappen | “I get treated differently to some other drivers. I end up with a penalty where others do the same thing and don’t get one. I don’t know why that is. You have to ask other people that question.”
Christian Horner | “I have a respect for Mercedes, I have a respect for Toto [Wolff]. That doesn’t mean I have to like him. Whoever comes on top out of this championship, either one, will be a deserving champion.”
Toto Wolff | “If things go against the team, against the two drivers, I can get quite emotional with the moment and Christian has his own way in dealing with it, as he said we’re very different personalities.”
The Friday Form
Practice 2 Top 5
1 | Lewis Hamilton | 1:23.691 | 26 Laps
2 | Esteban Ocon | 1:24.034 | 29 Laps
3 | Valtteri Bottas | 1:24.083 | 29 Laps
4 | Max Verstappen | 1:24.332 | 25 Laps
5 | Sergio Pérez | 1:24.400 | 26 Laps
Practice 1 Top 5
1 | Max Verstappen | 1:25.009 | 23 Laps
2 | Valtteri Bottas | 1:25.205 | 27 Laps
3 | Lewis Hamilton | 1:25.355 | 25 Laps
4 | Sergio Pérez | 1:25.363 | 24 Laps
5 | Yuki Tsunoda | 1:25.378 | 23 Laps
The Photos
The Predictions
Podium
Pole Position
Fastest Lap
Driver of the Day
