Ferrari and McLaren are competing for the F1 constructors’ title at the Abu Dhabi GP. A track that has traditionally not been lucky for the Scuderia, who will have to defy historical statistics to succeed. The final weekend of the 2024 season will be intense, and Frederic Vasseur’s team will leave nothing to chance.
The Abu Dhabi Circuit
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been the final stage of the Formula 1 season since 2009. The only exceptions where the calendar did not feature Yas Marina as the last race were in 2011 and 2013. Designed by Hermann Tilke, the Middle Eastern circuit was recently modified in its layout. The length was reduced to 5.28 kilometers, a chicane was removed to encourage overtaking, and to make the race more exciting, which peaked in 2021 due to the championship battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Like in Las Vegas, the race here will also end at night, even though it starts at sunset.
Statistics of the Abu Dhabi GP
Ferrari finds itself fighting for the constructors’ title at a track where it has never excelled. In twelve editions of this Grand Prix, the Scuderia has never won and has never secured a pole position either. An unenthusiastic statistic, considering a weekend where Ferrari must aim for a double podium.
The most successful driver here is Lewis Hamilton, with five wins. At Yas Marina, the British driver clinched the 2014 world championship, while in 2016, he lost the title to Nico Rosberg, who only needed second place to secure the crown. Sebastian Vettel has won three times at Abu Dhabi, including the inaugural race in 2009. In 2010, he won both the race and the world championship, his first career title, beating Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso in the process.
The most memorable edition, however, remains that of 2021, when Max Verstappen won the world title on the last lap at the expense of Lewis Hamilton. That race made history due to the controversial handling of the race direction, led by Michael Masi.
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