The Grand Prix Abu Dhabi – Information, schedule, stream

Despite the original plan, Formula 1 will run “only” twenty-two races this season, with the last event of 2022 being the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix). So what is the schedule and where can you follow the entire race weekend?

Plans for the expansion of Yas Island were announced back in 2006, with construction starting in 2007. This major project was then completed in 2009, and it is from this year that the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been a firm fixture on the Formula 1 calendar.

Its first winner was Sebastian Vettel in a Red Bull. However, the 2009 season was dominated by Jenson Button in the colours of the Brawn GP team, with the German driver taking the title a year later.

However, Lewis Hamilton has the most victories at the Yas Marina Circuit (5), and as far as the teams are concerned, the most victories were celebrated in Abu Dhabi by Mercedes (6).

The fastest lap is held by Max Verstappen, who set a time of 1:26.103 in the 2021 season. In any case, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has offered some spectacular stories in its history – such as the 2012 title battle between Vettel and Fernando Alonso or last year’s showdown between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.

Yas Marina Circuit

The track itself is 5.281km long and consists of sixteen corners. Yas Marina Circuit, as the official name of the circuit goes, offers two DRS zones with two detection points. The first DRS zone can be found on the straight between Turns 5 and 6, while the second one can be found on the next straight between Turns 8 and 9.

The first detection point is located after turn 4, the second can be found at the exit of turn 7, just before the second DRS zone. Formula 1 has scheduled the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for a standard 58 laps, during which the drivers will cover over 306 kilometres.

But as well as the detection points, you can also see the average speeds that the drivers achieve at each corner, and what gear they usually shift into at that corner.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – programme

The Formula 1 cars will take to the track for the first time on Friday, 18 November, at 11:00, as part of the first practice session (officially called Free Practice 1 – ed.). This will last the standard one hour.

FP2 will start on the same day at 14:00. The third and final free practice is scheduled for Saturday, November 19, from 11:30 to 12:30.

At the stroke of 15:00, drivers and teams will qualify for Sunday’s Grand Prix, which F1 has scheduled to start at 14:00.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – stream

Live coverage of the Formula 1 races can be watched on Sport 1 and Sport 2. There will also be internet streams and, last but not least, F1 TV, where you can switch to the onboard cameras of individual drivers.

But F1 TV in particular also offers other features, namely livetiming and detailed telemetry. In addition to the full F1 programme, you can also watch press conferences or Formula 2 or Formula 3 practice and qualifying sessions.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – odds

The last race of the season – the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Last year Verstappen won here and won the world championship after a year-long battle with Hamilton and a very controversial finish.

This year, however, the situation is different, Verstappen has already won his second title in Japan, and Red Bull has also achieved a first in the Constructors’ Cup. Fans can still look forward to a great show though, as the battle for second place in the Drivers’ Championship between Sergio Pérez and Charles Leclerc comes to a head, Ferrari will be looking to maintain their second position ahead of Mercedes in the Constructors’ Cup.

So who to back? In terms of current form, it is very likely that one of the Red Bull driver pairing, namely Pérez or Verstappen, will win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. And with the Mexican driver fighting for the final second place…

The Mercedes drivers will also want to attack the top positions, but the expectations in terms of victory will go more to the Austrian team.

The 2022 Formula One World Championship calendar

20. march – Bahrain Grand Prix (Sakhir)
27. march – Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (Jeddah)
10. april – Australian Grand Prix (Melbourne)
24. april – Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna (Imola)
8. may – Miami Grand Prix (Miami)
22. may – Spanish Grand Prix (Barcelona)
29. may – Monaco Grand Prix (Monaco)
12. june – Azerbaijan Grand Prix (Baku)
19. june – Canadian Grand Prix (Montreal)
3. july – British Grand Prix (Silverstone)
10. july – Austrian Grand Prix (Spielberg)
24. july – French Grand Prix (Paul Ricard)
31. july – Hungarian Grand Prix (Hungaroring)
28. august – Belgian Grand Prix (Spa-Francorchamps)
4. september – Dutch Grand Prix (Zandvoort)
11. september – Italian Grand Prix (Monza)
2. october – Singapore Grand Prix (Singapore)
9. october – Japanese Grand Prix (Suzuka)
23. october – US Grand Prix (Austin)
30. october – Mexican Grand Prix (Mexico City)
13. november – Brazilian Grand Prix (Interlagos)
20. november – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Yas Marina)

With the date of 25 September, the Russian Grand Prix at the Sochi circuit also had a place on the calendar. However, due to the events in Ukraine, F1 has removed this race from the schedule and according to official information, it will not be replaced by any race.

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