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Championship protagonists Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton come into the 22nd and final round of what has been a thrilling 2021 season level on points with the F1 title on the line.
The season finale is once again held at the Yas Marina Circuit in the United Arab Emirates which has been the setting for some iconic title showdowns in the past. Most recently, the track has seen a battle for the title between Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso in 2012 as well as Hamilton and Nico Rosberg fighting for the championship in 2014 and 2016.
This year’s fight is the first in nine years to go down to the wire with the two challengers driving for different teams.
Designed by Herman Tilke, the newly modified 5.3-kilometre track features 16 turns and two back-to-back DRS zones. Turns three and nine have been altered from slow chicanes to medium speed hairpins with the target being to improve the racing.
Turns 12 to 15 have also been tweaked. Previously slow, medium speed corners under the circuit’s iconic hotel, have now had their radii opened out which will help cars follow a lot more closely compared to previous years.
At the venue where he won his last race for Lotus in 2012, Kimi Raikkonen will race for one final time in Formula 1 before he retires from the sport. The 2007 F1 World Champion has won 21 races, scored 103 podiums, tallied 1873 career points with 18 pole positions and 46 fastest laps to his name since his debut at the Australian Grand Prix in 2001.
In the pre-event press conference, the Finn gave his thoughts on his final F1 weekend in true Kimi Raikkonen fashion.
“I’m looking forward to when it’s done…
“I think it’s true my wife will be more emotional about it than me!”
One of the most intriguing seasons of the turbo-hybrid era hasn’t been short of controversy between Verstappen and Hamilton with the duo coming together numerous times throughout the season, none more so than last time out in Saudi Arabia.
Only once before in the sport’s history has the season come down to the final race level on points. Emerson Fittipaldi and Clay Regazzoni were tied on points heading into the final race of the 1974 season at Watkins Glen with the Brazilian emerging victorious by three points.
Possibly what makes the 2021 season so spectacular is after 21 races, 21 fastest lap bonus points, three Sprint events, half-points after the Belgian Grand Prix fell foul of the rain, both drivers are level on 369.5 points with odds that would have offered astronomical returns back when the season started in Bahrain.
Both drivers come into this race with an edge over the other. Hamilton is hunting for his eighth title and has been victorious in the previous three races this season, meanwhile, Verstappen, chasing his first championship crown, is first in the standings due to having more race victories than the Mercedes driver.
Permutations
If the title is decided on track, then whoever out of Verstappen and Hamilton finishes ahead of the other will be the 2021 champion. The only way both drivers can finish in the points and still be tied on points is if one of them finishes ninth with the other finishing 10th and gains an extra point for the fastest lap.
However, in that scenario, it would be Verstappen who would be champion due to his nine race victories compared to Hamilton’s eight.
FIA Sporting Director Michael Masi insists that the season must be decided in a fair manner and has warned both drivers about the possibility of disqualifications or points deductions if either driver is found guilty of committing any malicious moves.
In a season where the championship pendulum has swung to both sides of the extreme, whichever driver comes out on top has overcome frustration and given it their all, and in doing so, provided one of the most action-packed seasons to date.
Champion Prediction
This unpredictable and controversial season has thrown up so many twists and turns throughout and will be one that will go down in the history books.
It will be Max Verstappen who will come out on top in the championship after securing his 10th race win of the season. The Dutchman will narrowly hold off everything Mercedes throw at him, including a new power unit for Hamilton which will demote the Brit to fifth on the grid and whilst he makes up positions, Verstappen will comfortably pull clear out in front.
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