Oh yeah, there’s one more race to go.
After the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi seems like an afterthought. You get the sense that the teams are exhausted from twenty-two(!) races, especially since the last race was half a world away. So you can understand if things are at least starting off muted at Yas Marina.
There is still a lot to race for. The biggest prize is second in the Constructor’s Championship with Mercedes and Ferrari fighting it out. Further back; Haas, Alpha Tauri, and Williams are working hard to score points and avoid the bottom of the standings. But you get the sense that everybody will be relieved when the season comes to an end.
Verstappen has been strong at Yas Marina over the past few years so my guess is he will be on pole and is likely to win. However, Ferrari has looked good lately so maybe they can keep RBR honest. It’s difficult to say who has the advantage behind Verstappen, McLaren could well factor in the proceedings as well. Guess we’ll have to tune in to see.
History also says that there won’t be much compelling action at Yas Marina. Despite having two long straights, the track doesn’t afford too many opportunities for overtaking. Turn 4 is good but other than that, slim pickings. The teams are most likely to gain positions via pit stops strategies so that is the part of the race to watch. Undercuts, overcuts, and track position will be the big storylines to follow. Also, if there are Safety Car deployments; that will play a role.
Overall, I have never been a fan of Yas Marina. The first time it hosted a race, I said to others that it is “Visually stunning but utterly lacking in character.” It will be a spectacle but it always seems to lack the electricity of other grand prix venues. Then again, we won’t know until the lights go out and the race starts. Guess that’s why we watch.
