F1 Abu Dhabi GP 2021: UK start time of grand prix, race schedule, practice, qualifying, track and past winners

The final Grand Prix of 2021 is nearly upon us and it is set up to be a dramatic finish. Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton are currently tied on 369.5 points and it is all down to the final race to decide who will win the 2021 Championship title.

The first ever Saudi Arabian Grand Prix took place last weekend with Lewis Hamilton finishing in a convincing first place, over 20 second ahead of his rival Verstappen who came in second ahead of Mercedes driver, Valterri Bottas, who pipped Alpine’s Esteban Ocon at the last second to take third.

All season has been building up to this final race and the 2021 F1 season has been full of intense rivalry, hard-fought battles and relentless competition.

It has been many years since Hamilton has had to compete so hard against a rival for the Championship but Verstappen has brought the fire back into the sport by challenging the 36-year-old at every possible step.

For weeks the drivers’ standing was flitting back and forth between the pair and it is now all on the last race to decide who will be crowned the 2021 Champion.

Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

When is the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?

The race weekend will start on Friday 10 December and conclude with the final 2021 F1 race on Sunday 12 December

What are the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix timings?

Friday 10 December

• Practice 1: 9.30 - 10.30am GMT
• Practice 2: 1 - 2pm GMT

Saturday 11 December

• Practice 3: 10 - 11am GMT
• Qualifying: 1 - 2pm GMT

Sunday 12 December

• Race: 1pm GMT start 

How to watch the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Every session from the start of the first practice session to the end of the race will be available to watch on Sky Sports.

A live stream of their coverage can also be accessed via NowTV.

Channel 4 has won the rights to show the race on terrestrial TV, having struck an agreement with Sky.

The free to air channel agreed a similar arrangement with Amazon Prime Video to show the US Open final, won by Emma Raducanu.

Where is the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix taking place?

The final race of the season will be held at the Etihad Airways, Yas Marina Circuit, located just to the east of Abu Dhabi.

What is the Abu Dhabi race track like?

The circuit was completed in 2009 and debuted as that year’s Formula 1 season finale.

It is a Hermann Tilke-designed track, dominated by its 1.2km straight between the fifth and sixth turn.

With its slow-speed corners marking the beginning and end of the straight, it becomes a hotspot for overtaking.

There is another tricky spot through turns 10 and 11 into turn 12 which forces drivers to brake hard despite the bags of lateral load still on the car.

There have been recent track modifications which have shortened the lap slightly to 5.28km which has added excitement to the already dramatic final race in 2021. Turn 11 to 14 have been replaced by one curve which will feature shallow banking and turns 17,18,19 and 20 have been eased to create a smoother flow at the end of each lap.

Who has previously won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?

2009: Sebastian Vettel with Red Bull-Renault

2010: Sebastian Vettel with Red Bull-Renault

2011: Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes

2012: Kimi Raikonen with Lotus-Renault

2013: Sebastian Vettel with Red Bull-Renault

2014: Lewis Hamilton with Mercedes

2015: Nico Rosberg with Mercedes

2016: Lewis Hamilton with Mercedes

2017: Valterri Bottas with Mercedes

2018: Lewis Hamilton with Mercedes

2019: Lewis Hamilton with Mercedes

2020: Max Verstappen with Red Bull Racing-Honda

Who will win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?

History suggests that Lewis Hamilton will have the edge at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix but with Verstappen taking the win in 2020 and both with so much to gain from the win, it is hard to predict who will take that number one spot.

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