This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
This season’s Formula One title combat could also be lengthy over however for Mercedes and Ferrari a battle for pleasure and no little prize cash lends this weekend’s finale at Abu Dhabi a dramatic pressure that had largely drained from the championship after Max Verstappen left the sector in his wake.
Doubtless Red Bull’s Verstappen, who has already secured the drivers’ title, will canter away to a different victory on the Yas Marina Circuit. There is not any motive to suppose the dominance he has displayed all season shouldn’t shut along with his nineteenth win from 22 races, a file so sturdy it could by no means be damaged.
Behind him nonetheless the competitors the game has lacked on the very entrance of the grid is reaching what ought to be an enthralling climax. While Red Bull have lengthy since secured the workforce title, Mercedes and Ferrari, second and third in the constructors’ championship, go into the assembly separated by solely 4 factors after 21 races – an extremely tight margin and the type of nip-and-tuck combat F1 had dreamed of when imposing the brand new rules in 2022 earlier than Red Bull turned up and Adrian Newey’s singularly sensible interpretation of them left the remainder of the sector as also-rans.
The battle for second just isn’t the place both workforce need to be however it lends Abu Dhabi, a soulless and singularly common monitor at which to carry the season finale, weight that might be in any other case lacking from this useless rubber in the desert.
Four drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari – will all be going at it with each level, together with even the bonus for quickest lap, probably essential.
The technique calls are more likely to be as tense as in any title decider. For all that, as Ron Dennis famous, second place is “the first of the losers”, there may be nonetheless a lot to combat for. The distinction in payout from F1’s estimated $1bn (£800m) constructors’ prize fund between second and third is believed to be as a lot as $10m, from $131m to round $121m which no workforce would sniff at, not least once they want each penny to be making an attempt to bridge the hole to Red Bull for subsequent 12 months.
The drivers perceive this. Hamilton made it clear the battle for second in the constructors’ championship was extra vital to him than the place he completed in the drivers’ championship as soon as the title was gone and he confirmed third place in Las Vegas. His views have been echoed by Russell, Leclerc and Sainz.
Moreover this combat is one which has ebbed and flowed. Mercedes had began slowly with each they and Ferrari outpaced by Aston Martin, who have been out of the blocks with alacrity, a tempo they may not maintain because the season progressed.
As Mercedes got here to higher know their automotive they overtook Aston for second on the Spanish Grand Prix and whereas Ferrari struggled, significantly with extreme tyre put on, they fell again, 56 factors behind by the Hungarian GP in July. Yet the Scuderia turned it round and have come again strongly, together with Sainz taking the one non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore.
Theyhave reeled in Mercedes to arrange this decider and fairly who could have the benefit at Yas Marina stays tantalisingly troublesome to nail down. Ferrari had nice tempo in the final spherical at Las Vegas however that won’t essentially translate to Abu Dhabi. Yet they’ll nonetheless doubtless have an edge. They will benefit from the straight line pace benefit in the primary half of the lap and their automotive, with sturdy traction out of the sluggish corners all season, will punch out of the flip 5 hairpin and the chicane at six and seven for instance.
after publication promotion
Yet Mercedes ought to be fast in the second half of the lap, with the medium pace corners the place their automotive is stronger. Indeed it could but come right down to tyre put on, with each groups nonetheless struggling to foretell precisely how their automotive will carry out at any given circuit, as they’ve such slim working home windows.
After observe Hamilton conceded qualifying may be important. “It was not the greatest of days. We have had difficult qualifying sessions this year,” he mentioned. “The work tomorrow is to try and get into Q3 but it is going to be close.”
It is way from a grand, title-deciding finale however because the groups lick their wounds and head into the winter to arrange for a tilt at Red Bull subsequent 12 months, it would but ship some fireworks on the final.
Early indications have been that there was little to decide on between them. Russell topped first observe, whereas in the second session Sainz crashed out at flip three. When operating resumed with time restricted Leclerc was on prime with Russell and Hamilton in sixth and eighth.
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