On Friday, December 10, the final stage of the 2021 season in Formula 1 starts. Two days later, the champion of the current year will be determined – Briton Lewis Hamilton or Dutchman Max Verstappen – and there will also be a denouement in several striking confrontations. MK-Sport tells about the most interesting events of the upcoming stage.
So, Sunday will end one of the most amazing Formula 1 seasons in its history. Over the past eight months, many things have happened that I will remember for a long time.
For the first time since 1974, competitors in the fight for the title are approaching the final race with an equal number of points. So far, Max Verstappen is ahead , but only due to a greater number of victories: nine against eight. Whoever scores more points on Sunday will take the title.
Lewis Hamilton could win a record eighth career trophy. If this happens, the Briton will overtake the great Michael Schumacher in the number of winning seasons. If Max wins, it will be his first title in his racing career and at the same time herald the end of the era of Hamilton’s dominance in Formula 1.
But the final stage is interesting not only for the battle for the title. Several important events will happen at once in the coming weekend. For example, Mercedes can take a record eighth consecutive Constructors’ Cup if they score 17 points. Any of the Silver Arrow pilots needs to finish the race second for his team to win the title.
Veteran Kimi Raikkonen will host the last Formula 1 race on Sunday . The Finnish pilot is the last of the current F1 drivers who was born in the 1970s. “Iceman” began performing in the series back in 2001, when the youngest active pilot, Yuka Tsunoda, was only 10 months old. Kimi is the 2007 world champion. On account of the rider 21 wins, 18 poles and 103 podiums. To date, the Finn – the record holder for the number of grand prix held – in Abu Dhabi Raikkonen will hold the 349th race.
For the last three seasons, Kimi did not participate in the fight for victories, as he played for the weak Alfa Romeo. According to the pilot himself, before Abu Dhabi, he is impatient to end the season as soon as possible, as he is tired of endless travels and wants to spend more time with his family.
Also, the last race to date will be held by the only Italian in Formula 1, Antonio Giovinatsia . The performances of recent years have not convinced the Alpha bosses of the need to extend the driver’s contract with the Apennines for another season. Instead of Jovi, the Chinese pilot Guanyu Zhou will go fighting in 2022 , and Antonio himself will compete in Formula E.
The last race for Mercedes will be held by Valtteri Bottas . The Finnish pilot will be joining Alfa Romeo next season as a match for Zhou. Valtteri has one task left for this season – to keep Verstappen down and help Hamilton win the title. I wonder how the rider will handle the challenge.
With the end of the 2021 season, the new technical regulations will end. This is the last time we see the fireballs in their current form. Next year, the cars will be more streamlined, and the pursuit of the car in front will be a little less of a problem than it is now. Also, 13-inch wheels will be replaced by 17-inch wheels.
In general, the stage in Abu Dhabi will become fateful in many ways. It’s great that we are lucky enough to witness such an action. It remains to wait quite a bit. I’m sure we’ll see a first-class show on Sunday.
Stage schedule (Moscow time):
Friday
First workout 12:30
Second training session 16:00
Saturday
Third workout 13:00
Qualification 16:00
Sunday
Race 16:00
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