The Grand Final in Abu Dhabi was dominated by Verstappen! It was an emotional day, says Vettel

The last race of this year’s impromptu season was held at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. And it was a truly emotional experience. How did the battle for third place in the Constructors’ Cup go? And who is saying goodbye to their Formula One career?

Qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix already gave a hint of how the race might go. For the first time this season, someone other than a Mercedes driver took pole position, and the McLarens were also fast.

Verstappen, Bottas, Hamilton, Norris, Albon, Sainz, Kvyat, Stroll, Gasly, Ocon – this is what the top ten order looked like on the grid. Sergio Pérez, the winner of the last race, started from 19th position, as he was penalised for changing the turbo on his power unit.

After the start of the race, the order didn’t change dramatically, with the drivers showing that above all they didn’t want to make a mistake. Verstappen easily maintained his lead and passed both Mercedes. However, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon had a nice battle for ninth place.

On lap six, Albon took advantage of the DRS and raced past Norris for fourth. However, the McLarens maintained a solid race pace and the battle for third place in the Constructors’ Cup was in their hands. The only one currently threatening Norris and Sainz on the results sheet was Stroll in seventh position.

And after lap ten, things looked even worse for Racing Point. Not long ago, Sergio Pérez had already complained that the components on his car were well beyond their useful life. While his power unit didn’t catch fire like it did two races back, it was an engine failure that forced him to retire on lap ten.

The Safety Car took to the track and the drivers took advantage of this en masse for pit stops. Except for the two Ferrari drivers and Daniel Ricciardo. But it was a fateful decision for the Maranello stable during the Grand Prix. Due to low power and even less grip, both drivers were forced to stop anyway. Charles Leclerc dropped to the very tail of the grid thanks to this.

Ricciardo’s stop came on lap 40, but fell far short of the desired and expected result. The track on the island of Yas Marina is very specific. The same rules and conditions do not apply to tyres as at other circuits on the F1 calendar.

at least the 31-year-old Australian could enjoy the fastest lap of the race. The race was the worst for the Haas team, whose drivers finished nineteenth and eighteenth. Ferrari also had an equally unsuccessful Grand Prix – Vettel fourteenth, Leclerc thirteenth.

Kimi Räikkönen in the Alfa Romeo finished ahead of both Ferrari drivers, with Daniil Kvyat just outside the gates of the points top ten. The Abu Dhabi GP was both a sad and unfortunate race for the Racing Point stable. Pérez failed to finish and Stroll finished tenth.

Ocon crossed the line ninth, Gasly eighth and the aforementioned Daniel Ricciardo seventh. A great result, a sixth (Sainz) and a fifth (Norris) for McLaren. However, it was Alex Albon who tried to make the last laps more dramatic. He was literally flying forward in his Red Bull at the end, intimidating Lewis Hamilton in third place at the slightest.

Second place – Valtteri Bottas. Thanks to this result, the Finnish driver kept the championship standings ahead of the winner of this Grand Prix, Max Verstappen, who sovereignly won in the start-finish manner.

It was this talented Dutchman who said in his post-race interview that he really enjoyed the whole race weekend. But who will be racing alongside him next season? From the information so far, it’s clear that it won’t be Sergio Pérez. It’s also very likely that Albon will end up keeping his seat at Red Bull thanks to his recent performances.

In any case, there is a strange atmosphere around Sergio Pérez. It’s unusual that a driver of his quality doesn’t really have a place with any of the teams for 2021. Where are no changes expected? Mercedes.

Valtteri Bottas is, quite simply, the perfect number two and we all know Lewis Hamilton too. He may well break the 100 win mark in Formula One next year. Assuming he becomes world champion again, he would also be alone in the historical tables. It would be a big surprise if he didn’t sign.

But things will happen at the Maranello stable, and probably not just in the driver line-up. The Italian team must make drastic changes. However, the involvement of the young and talented Carlos Sainz will certainly help. Leclerc + Sainz = the future of Ferrari.

Officially, third place belongs to McLaren. Although the Spaniard Sainz is leaving the team, the fans of this stable can look forward to more than a quality replacement. Daniel Ricciardo, who is leaving Renault, will be in the cockpit next year.

Esteban Ocon will remain in the French stable. Fernando Alonso is making a big comeback. He had a solid weekend in Abu Dhabi in his 2005 championship Renault and it will be interesting to see what he does in this stable next year. But the French stable will have a different name, Alpine F1!

Another team changing its name this season is Aston Martin F1, known as Racing Point. That’s because today marks the end of their partnership with Red Bull, and they’ve backed a deal that will see them drawn back into the world of Formula One a little more. By the way, this is nothing short term – this deal is supposed to be for a minimum of 10 years!

The driver pairing here will be Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll. Daniil Kvyat is saying goodbye to his Formula 1 career. The Russian racer admitted over the weekend that he finds his tenure in the royal class of motorsport somewhat short. But the decision has already been made.

Pierre Gasly, who still does not know the name of his teammate for next year, will continue with Alpha Tauri. The driver line-up remains the same at Williams and Alfa Romeo, with both Haas drivers also bidding farewell to their careers. Two newcomers will drive here next season – Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher!

Something old ends, something new begins. Now there’s nothing to do but say goodbye to this season. But, dear F1 fans, don’t be too sad. We’re going to have a very short winter break before the racing starts again. For now, let’s wish the drivers a rest after what has been the shortest Formula One season ever in terms of days.

21. march sees the start of the new season, and where else but the Melbourne circuit in Australia.

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