The Abu Dhabi occasion concludes the longest season in System 1 historical past, finishing a 24-round world tour. The Yas Marina Circuit has hosted the premier motorsport competitors 15 occasions, and on 12 events, it has been the season’s remaining Grand Prix. 4 weekends have been decisive in awarding a number of world titles: in 2021 for each titles, and in 2010, 2014, and 2016 for the Drivers’ Championship alone. Subsequent Sunday, the race will as soon as once more resolve who between McLaren and Ferrari will probably be topped the 2024 world champion.
As per custom, Pirelli has chosen the softest trio of compounds for this occasion: the C3 as Onerous, C4 as Medium, and C5 as Comfortable. The compound marked with pink brackets will doubtless dominate the qualifying periods, whereas Medium and Onerous will take middle stage – in each sense, as this would be the third consecutive night time race – on Sunday night.
Following vital modifications launched in 2021, which made the observe a lot quicker and smoother, the circuit is 5.281 kilometers lengthy and gives a number of overtaking alternatives. Tire forces are usually medium-low as a result of shortage of high-speed corners. The asphalt gives restricted grip and has a median roughness for the season. Temperatures will play a key function: two of the three observe periods happen in pure mild, FP2 and the race span sundown, and qualifying is completely within the night. Consequently, asphalt circumstances can change quickly as temperatures drop, and observe evolution as a consequence of rubbering in will probably be swift, particularly within the early days, additionally aided by the three help sequence – F4 UAE, F1 Academy, and F2 – scheduled for the weekend.
On a observe the place graining can have a big influence and, as beforehand talked about, gives overtaking alternatives due to the modifications made three years in the past, a two-stop technique is undoubtedly preferable, as seen final yr. Moreover, the undercut could be very efficient, whereas a single cease requires very excessive ranges of tire administration to restrict efficiency degradation.
The motive force with essentially the most wins in Abu Dhabi is Lewis Hamilton, victorious 5 occasions. Max Verstappen, who will obtain the Pirelli Pole Place Award of the 12 months on Sunday for securing essentially the most poles this season, can match him, having already gained 4 occasions consecutively from 2020 to 2023. Amongst groups, Crimson Bull leads Mercedes (7 to six). Solely two different groups have gained in Abu Dhabi: Lotus with Kimi Raikkonen in 2013 and McLaren with Hamilton within the inaugural 2009 version.
Nevertheless, the 2024 season won’t finish on Sunday night. On Tuesday, December 10, a extremely intensive collective check day is scheduled at Yas Marina. All ten groups will area two automobiles every: one for rookies – outlined by FIA sporting rules as drivers who haven’t competed in additional than two Grands Prix – and one for different drivers. The tire units will differ: rookies will use the 2024 compounds chosen for this Grand Prix, whereas common or official drivers will check the homologated model of all of the tires, besides the C1, unsuitable for the observe’s traits, that Pirelli will provide in 2025, developed in collaboration with the groups all year long.
Younger drivers could have eight tire units in whole: two C3, 4 C4, and two C5. Different drivers could have ten units accessible: one C2, three every of C3 and C4, two C5, and one C6, the brand new ultra-soft compound increasing the 2025 vary, presumably to be used on sure road circuits subsequent yr. Not like the so-called “in-competition check” in Mexico Metropolis, Pirelli won’t outline a standardized program for using the 2025 tires: every staff can work as they like to gather essential information for growing subsequent yr’s automobiles. Through the check, C2 and C6 will probably be marked solely with the Pirelli emblem in white and pink, respectively, whereas C3, C4, and C5 will retain the same old coloring for Onerous, Medium, and Comfortable (along with the emblem, the brackets will probably be white, yellow, and pink, respectively).
Purchase official Ferrari F1 merchandise!
Let different Scuderia Followers find out about us
