Race 24 - 2024 Abu Dhabi GP

[Nitrodaze]

We head to Abu Dhabi for the last race of the long 2024 season. A season that started with the expectation that Redbull was going to run away with the championship. But to the contrary, out of the depth of the midfields emerged McLaren and Norris to pose an unlikely challenge for both the driver's and constructors championship. The Redbull dominance fizzled in the mid term of the season and consequentially produced double One-Two finish for three other teams; McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes. And an unpresedented seven different race winners. It is not an overstatement to say it was a truly entertaining and exciting season of great raciing.

To underline what a high level of competence and densely packed competitiveness at all sections o0f the grid, we see four brilliant racers depart the grid. Valterie Bottas a driver very deserving of a place in the paddock; 10 race wins and 20 pole positions surpringly is without a drive for the 2025 season. Kevin Magnussen, probably the only driver in recent times to put a tail end team on pole for the Haas team is also departing F1 for the third time. Zhou who has consistently being on par with Bottas in the Kick Sauber car and the only Chinese to ever race an F1 post the Schumacher era also departs. Colapinto, the brilliant rookie who was given an unexpected half season in the Williams delighted with his speed and racecraft to show he is deserving of a race seat nin a F1 car. I half a season he achieved more points than the entire achivement of the chap he replaced in a short half season.

The great quality of young drivers coming out of F2 is now seeming to put pressure for F1 seats. The high level of readiness of the drivers from the junior category may turn out to reduce the servitude span of F1 drivers in the near future. With cheaper capable drivers reeling off the F2 seasons, more expensive older drivers on the grid may find their shelf live shorten considerably. No one feels the pressure more than Sergio Perez at this time.

The Seven Time Driver's World Champion Sir Lewis Hamilton, drives is last race for Mercedes at this location which holds painful memories for him. It has been a woeful season with the occasional bright moments for him. It certainly was not how he may have envisaged ending his time with the Silver Arrows. But all good things always come to an end eventually. But it is an end that l guess may have left a sour taste in both his and Toto's mouths. From the outside, it was a season that did not do Mercedes any favours as they paraded their most successful icon from race track to race track in what was a very embarrassing display partnership.

The Constructor's championship is all to fight for in a few hours. McLaren is 21 points ahead with Leclerc's Ferrari hit with a ten places drop due to battery replacement. There's much to see the weekend as we watch championship battles in three categories this weekend. The F2 championship contenders Bortoleto and Hadjah are split by half a point, that would be a race to watch if you don't usually watch F2, this is guaranteed to be a great F2 race to watch. Academy racer Pulling must secure a sole point this weekend to formally be crowned champion. That race also promises some very potential twist and turns as the champion cements her first title. Lots to watch and plenty to talk about as we access this very long and interesting season later.

[airshifter]

Interesting qually session to say the least.

Though some of the expected backmarkers were out on merit, Lewis picks up a bollard in Q1 and ends up out of the session in P18. Not having a banker lap in cost him and Merc dearly. Not to be outdone, Leclerc struggles and ends up out in Q2, in 14th position. But with his and other penalties he will start behind Lewis in P19, while Lewis ends up in P16. Leclerc will have a new anything they want on the car most likely, and the Merc is reasonably strong as well, so we can see two good drivers working through the pack from the back.

Q3 had some great surprises as well. Hulkenberg puts the frikken Haas to P4, but then collects a penalty and will start P7. Max stays in it and does a monster slide out of the final turn, looking like he might put it in the wall. But with his car control, he not only saves it but goes to the quickest time when he did it. The two McLarens at the top on merit, and Carlos close behind. But Bottas manages to put the Sauber not only into Q3, but ahead of Perez as well.

As for George.... no further investigation warranted when he balks a car on a fast lap and he is slow on the racing line. I'm not one for conspiracies, but the princess should have been slapped with a grid penalty IMHO.



If McLaren manage to somehow not take the constructors title it will be a miracle. And yet the way this season has gone, I'm not completely confident they can do it.

[Nitrodaze]

LeClerc and Hamilton were awesome today. What a drive they put out today.

[Matthew]

LeClerc and Hamilton were awesome today. What a drive they put out today.

They both showed their class. I expect them to achieve great success together at Ferrari.