The champion among the drivers is known, the battle among the teams will be less exciting than expected, and yet, there will be many tears shed in Abu Dhabi today. Both of joy and of sorrow. Here are six reasons why the final race will be both special and emotional for many inside and outside the paddock.
1 Finally, a title
There are no guarantees in life, but it’s almost certain that McLaren will be celebrating the team championship in a few hours. Yes, eternal optimists and Ferrari fans: it’s still possible. But making up 21 points when one driver starts from the last place and the two drivers of the competitor start from positions one and two? No. Expect tears of joy at McLaren: the first constructor’s title since 1998, 26 years ago (!), is imminent. So, there’s still a party for Lando Norris.
And what if the ‘Miracle of Abu Dhabi’ does happen and Ferrari becomes the constructor’s champion? That would also be special: the last time was in 2009, also fifteen years ago.
2 Bad luck for Leclerc
Speaking of emotions: it was a special moment for the Leclerc family last Friday during the first free practice: Charles in one Ferrari, little brother Arthur in the other. But for the rest, it’s mainly a sad affair for Charles Leclerc in Abu Dhabi during this edition. First came the grid penalty of ten places after forced repairs to his car, then a (rightly) stripped time in the qualification due to exceeding track limits. Making up eight points on Norris today for position 2 behind champion Max Verstappen in the final standings of the World Championship? Difficult, if not impossible.
3. End of an Era (I)
Lewis Hamilton‘s potential move from Mercedes to Ferrari is a constant topic of discussion at every Grand Prix weekend. Understandably so, as the end of an era is upon us: the Englishman has raced hundreds of times for the Mercedes team since 2013, and even more for the engine supplier Mercedes thanks to his time at McLaren (since 2007). But now, today, it is truly the very last time that Hamilton will compete on behalf of the famous brand. And he does so from an unfortunate P18 (eventually P16 due to penalties for Albon and Leclerc). Regardless of the outcome, expect an emotional radio message afterwards. Hamilton himself admitted last week that saying goodbye is harder than he thought.
4. End of an Era (II)
Hamilton is not the only driver changing teams. You might also need tissues when Carlos Sainz speaks his last words as a Ferrari driver to his team after the finish. The Spaniard is reluctantly moving to Williams, a sentiment that has been evident all weekend. Understandably so, as the Spaniard frequently emphasizes: “It will take a while before I can compete for victories and podium places again…”
5. End of an Era (III)
Will we ever see Valtteri Bottas in a Formula 1 car again? Perhaps at Cadillac in a few years or as a reserve driver at Mercedes? The rumors are certainly there. And what about the almost certain departure of Sergio Pérez, despite an ongoing contract with Red Bull? And Kevin Magnussen? These veterans are likely truly on their last miles, at least in a Formula 1 race. It will be hard for them, and it will be very interesting to see how they handle it; some cooler and more businesslike than others. But in this case too, there will be no tears of joy for those involved in Abu Dhabi.
6. One Last Spectacle
Drivers (Max Verstappen: “I need a break”), staff, and many others in the paddock: many are longing for the end of a long and grueling season. But still, for fans and followers, it will be a period of withdrawal and immediate countdown to a presumably very exciting 2025… But first? One last spectacle.
Perhaps we’ll see George Russell and Verstappen side by side in a battle, or maybe Alpine and Haas fighting for the sixth spot (and tens of millions in prize money) among the teams. There might also be a determined Yuki Tsunoda, now that it’s clear Red Bull sees Liam Lawson as a more suitable teammate for Verstappen than him. And all the other drivers we haven’t mentioned yet? Everyone wants to finish with a good feeling or a remarkable performance.
Regardless, there will be plenty of tears shed in Abu Dhabi today, for better or worse. Come and see. One last time. And then the busiest F1 season ever, with 24 GPs, will be completed. Enjoy, one more time.
And furthermore…
…the race consists of 58 laps
…a lap is 5281 meters long
…the first GP in Abu Dhabi was in 2009
…the chance of a safety car is 38 percent
