The final race of the season at the Yas Marina circuit has concluded. From a strategic perspective, the race unfolded as expected. The fastest strategy was a one-stop Medium-Hard, as demonstrated by Charles Leclerc, who managed to finish on the podium despite starting from P19.
However, as we predicted earlier, there was a good mix of one- and two-stop strategies. What we didn’t anticipate was the number of overtakes. Happily wrong on that count, as it made for a more exciting race.
Strategy Recap
Before diving into details, here’s a quick recap: the most common strategy was the Medium C4 – Hard C3 option, used by Norris, Sainz, Leclerc, Russell, Verstappen, Gasly, Hulkenberg, Albon, Tsunoda, and Doohan. The only driver on Hard-Medium was Lewis Hamilton, who climbed from P16 to P4.
Several drivers opted for the two-stop Medium-Hard-Hard strategy. Despite being less advantageous, Alonso and Piastri still finished in the top 10, with Piastri overcoming a 10-second penalty for an early collision with Colapinto (who retired midway due to damage). Zhou and Stroll also used this approach. Colapinto and Bottas likely would have joined them, but both retired after switching their Mediums well before lap 10.
Magnussen followed an experimental strategy of Medium-Hard-Hard-Soft-Soft. Finishing last, he faced a problem during his second stop, prompting Haas to pit him again to gather Soft tire data. Magnussen completed 25 laps on Softs and set the fastest lap (1:25.637), breaking the track record. However, as he finished 16th, no additional point was awarded. The race saw four retirements: Lawson, Bottas, Colapinto, and Perez.
Norris Triumphs Over Sainz by Managing the Race Well
From a strategic perspective, the race offered little drama. However, two points stand out: the effectiveness of the undercut and its impact. The first example came when Leclerc passed Russell by pitting earlier, securing third place. The second was with Sainz, who pitted on lap 26 while trailing Norris by 3.8 seconds. Norris immediately reacted, pitting the next lap, and emerged just 1.6 seconds ahead. Ferrari gained over two seconds with the undercut, but McLaren’s cushion ensured Norris maintained control. From there, he only had to manage the race.
Charles Leclerc’s Strategic Genius Avoids a Second Stop
Leclerc’s comeback from P19 began with a flying start. By lap 2, during the Virtual Safety Car for Sergio Perez’s retirement, he was already in P8. A few incidents ahead helped, but it was a stellar performance nonetheless.
From there, overtaking Kevin Magnussen, Fernando Alonso, and Nico Hulkenberg was straightforward. However, his progress stalled on lap 13 behind Russell. Ferrari decided to pit early on lap 21, switching to Hards. Mercedes, concerned it was too early to one-stop, kept Russell out until lap 27. This allowed Leclerc to overtake with a 3-second advantage.
Charles Leclerc then showcased tire management skills, finishing third with a 4.5-second cushion over Hamilton, who used a Hard-Medium strategy. Ferrari debated during the race whether a second stop would have been better, but it’s clear this would have only complicated matters. Hamilton, who pitted on lap 34, was in P3 with a 2.2-second gap to Leclerc. If Charles Leclerc had stopped again, he would have faced a direct fight with Lewis for P3—a needless risk when he secured the position by managing his tires effectively.
A Masterclass from Ferrari’s 2025 Duo
Both Leclerc and Hamilton delivered exceptional performances in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Leclerc’s recovery from P19 and Hamilton’s leap from P16 to P12 in one lap—on Hard tires, no less—highlighted their skill. While neither won in Abu Dhabi, they showcased their immense talent. Their performances promise an exciting partnership for 2025.
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