[iamahunter]

The 2021 Finale - Yas Marina Circuit

The Yas Marina Circuit is the venue for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It is one of the most technologically-advanced tracks in the world, home to the annual Formula 1® Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and a living, breathing part of life in Abu Dhabi. The circuit was designed by Hermann Tilke, and is situated on Yas Island. Yas Marina was the second of four Formula One tracks in the Middle East, with the first being in Bahrain and subsequent tracks in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Yas Marina Circuit - New Layout

It is the first time the Yas Marina circuit configuration has been altered since it opened in 2009. The new layout features 16 corners instead of 21 and its length has been reduced by 273 metres. The race distance has therefore been increased from 55 laps to 58. A clear focus of the change is creating overtaking opportunities. In each case corners have been eased or slow sequences replaced with individual, faster bends. The alterations were designed by Driven International and implemented in conjunction with MRK 1 Consulting. Driven’s managing director Ben Willshire speculated that the new layout will be “around 10 to 15 seconds – depending on set-up and DRS.”


Track Details

• Lap length: 5.281km
• Race laps: 58
• Race distance: 306.183
• Maximum speed : 330kph
• Estimated Pit lane time loss : 22s
• Pole position: Right-hand side of the track

The Schedule



The Track



The Tyres



Weather on the Race Day

Why the Abu Dhabi GP should be a historic F1 moment – for all the right reasons
David Tremayne - F1 Journalist

Right now, it looks as if the Red Bull and the Mercedes are very equally matched over a lap, the former perhaps having greater grip, the latter greater terminal velocity, and the changes to Abu Dhabi’s circuit layout could also play a critical role in the outcome.

Having two hard-headed racers going mano a mano yet again, with everything to play for on a ‘winner takes it all’ basis, is surely what we all want F1 to be about. Their season-long fight has been such a great thing for the sport as it has grabbed the attention of existing and new fans across the globe.

But here’s the elephant in the room.

I have no wish to traduce Max. I like him and respect him as a tough racer, though at times I’m not happy with the choices he makes. He takes some tactics too far for my liking. It was the same with Ayrton Senna, and we often disagreed over what he believed to be acceptable. Michael Schumacher had a similar view at crucial times, which lessened him as a driver in my opinion.

Link to the full article.

Current Driver Standings


Constructors Standings

[Hatari]

Aah. Much awaited and finally here!
The most controversial Championship of recent years.

Its a track I know as well having driven a Mercedes AMG GTS on it a couple of years ago!

The new layout and surface adds to the unknown.

Mercedes go in with the clear upper hand, being an Alonso fan and lived through it in 2010 and 2012, it is not good place to be in for Red Bull this time, knowing they will be the ones that have to take the risks.

Hope its a clean fight.

In the least, rain will not be a factor to turn it into a lottery, or being stuck behind slower cars.

My prediction (one that has been the trend almost all season long) is :

1. Lewis
2. Max
3. Bottas

[ninjatalli]

Originally Posted by Hatari

Its a track I know as well having driven a Mercedes AMG GTS on it a couple of years ago!

Lol - I was wondering to put a similar 'claim' as I have run a half marathon all across the racetrack a few years ago

UAE folks have had a proper treat this year - first the IPLs and then WC T20s and now this rocker of a final race ending the F1. What a way to end the year!

[Turbohead]

Anyone else here hoping for Bottas to take out Hamilton on lap 1?

[iamahunter]

Originally Posted by Turbohead

Anyone else here hoping for Bottas to take out Hamilton on lap 1?

That would be so surprising for everyone.

Its like on the last day of work and employee drops the prod database!
(IT folks will understand and support folks will fantasize).

[Akshay6988]

Max is going to need a miracle to win this one. Lewis was flying on this track for last 3 races, Max needs to take advantage anyhow. But with that beast of a Mercedes, it is just a matter of time when Lewis overtakes him ! I just hope no one crashes and there's a clean racing. Sad to see Kimi retire, you'll be missed legend.

[akash_v12]

Apparently Pirelli have received somewhat of a shock regarding the kerbs in the newer, resurfaced portions of the track. They seem to be the pointy type like in Qatar and Pirelli say they had no idea about it. Add to that we have the 3 softest compounds of the entire line-up. Talk about Drama!

Source

[jpcoolguy]

With the corners reduced and increased speed, it's advantage Hamilton, however Max will bring back all his shenangians to deny him a win. It's going to be a cracker of a finale and hope we have clean racing ('fair' racing is too big a word for both Max and Lewis )

[Chetan_Rao]

Of all the tracks in the world, we are stuck with this glamorous excuse for a racing venue with a boring layout, no racing pedigree and no atmosphere to speak of, for the rest of this decade as the last race of the year.

Interlagos just felt like a natural choice on every aspect, but money talks. Oh well.

[SAK-XXVII]

The final race of the season is here and what a action packed season this has been. The best season in the turbo hybrid era in my opinion.

Rookies treading the learning curve, seasoned drivers showing they are capable of putting on a show and the championship contendors showing why they are the best.
I hope the best comes out on the top.

Kudos to Ferrari for all the progress they have made this year. I really hope they take the fight to the top next year. They have two enthusiastic drivers that can get them what they want. I hope they get it.

Mercedes have been the best costructors on the grid. The way that car pulled off fast laps, lap after lap, in the last race with a broken front wing end plate is just unbelieveable. They have a big enough margin to retain the top spot of the constructors table unless a miracle happens this race. They deserve it!

And drivers! I really hope Max makes all the corners perfectly and keeps it clean this time. I mean, look at that qualifying lap in Saudi arabia. Had he made it in the last corner that would be the lap of the season in my opinion. It was stunning until it was not. Anyways.

I'd bet on the black Mercedes car with number 44 and a cool head driving it for the win, but irrespective of the outcome, we have had a great battle this season and hope it continues for the following years. May the best win.

[Excommunicado]

My boy LH44 will keep it straightforward while being backed by a good strategy from Toto, James and Bono.

Car #44 going for win number 8, 4+4=8 while being backed up by Car #77 on sunday (7th day), 13/12 (total 7) will bring home Driver's as well as Constructor's championship. My lame numerology skills are on fire B)

On a serious note, after seeing some of Max's tricks and gimmicks, I won't feel bad if he has to wait another year for the championship. He is good, great even and has skills at par with Lewis maybe but a slight improvement in mindset next year should be the right time for his première championship. Anyways, wishing them both a good, clean fight right till the end. That is what I want the most.

[manson]

This last race battle for the driver's championship reminds me of the 2006 driver's championship battle. Schumi made an epic comeback in the second half of the season and got extremely close to the points tally of Alonso in the last few races but missed adding to his record of 7 titles. Here's hoping history repeats itself for Schumi's record to go unbroken this weekend

[bmw_lover]

Looks like Hamilton and Mercedes trying to demoralise red Bull and Max in this FP3. Hamilton a full 1.5 seconds faster than Max at this time.

[sravankrishnan]

Everyone looking forward to an enthralling finale but its looking increasingly likely that Hamilton will drive off into the sunset come Sunday with Verstappen nowhere near close enough to challenge . Would love to be proved wrong though.

I also can't help but feel that Max is due some good fortune. I won't be mad if he wins tomorrow with a little bit of luck.

[Ashishkel]

Originally Posted by bmw_lover

Looks like Hamilton and Mercedes trying to demoralise red Bull and Max in this FP3. Hamilton a full 1.5 seconds faster than Max at this time.

Or it could be RB Sandbagging ?