As we countdown to the final race of the 2023 Formula 1 season, there are several captivating storylines to look out for.
A three-time world champion, Max Verstappen is set to compete in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (8 a.m. ET, ESPN2) to conclude what could be the most dominant season in F1 history. If Verstappen claims victory on Sunday, he’ll complete the season with a remarkable record of 19 wins in 22 races, solidifying the best single-season winning percentage ever.
For those who may be a bit weary of Verstappen’s record-setting season, rest assured as there are still some compelling aspects to keep an eye on during the season finale. Here’s what you need to watch out for:
Can Ferrari outdo Mercedes?
Heading into the season finale, Verstappen has amassed an impressive 549 points while outscoring every other team by over 150 points. Single-handedly securing both the driver’s title and the constructor’s title for Red Bull.
Thanks to Sergio Perez’s contributions, Red Bull has 822 points and is currently 432 points ahead of Mercedes in second place. However, Mercedes is leading Ferrari by only four points for second place in the team standings ahead of Abu Dhabi.
Ferrari narrowed the gap by 16 points in Las Vegas through Charles Leclerc’s second-place finish and Carlos Sainz’s sixth-place finish as Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finished seventh and eighth.
The question is – can Ferrari replicate that effort in Abu Dhabi? The two teams are expected to be evenly matched over the race weekend, and the edge may come down to qualifying. In this aspect, Ferrari holds an advantage as Mercedes has had inconsistent qualifying pace this season.
McLaren aims to maintain lead over Aston Martin
Having recovered from a disastrous start, McLaren currently sits fourth in the constructor’s standings. The duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri enjoy an 11-point lead over Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso.
Similar to Ferrari, Aston Martin made significant progress in Las Vegas. Stroll finished fifth, and Alonso was ninth. As a result, Abu Dhabi should favor the McLaren car more than Las Vegas did. However, Aston Martin has found late-season speed by reverting to the upgrades it attempted throughout the season.
Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso are tied for fourth
While the top three spots in the driver’s standings are settled, Perez is second behind Verstappen and has a 41-point lead over Hamilton in third. Hamilton sits 31 points ahead of Sainz.
Positions four to six are still up for grabs. Sainz and Alonso are tied for fourth at 200 points each, followed by Norris in sixth with 195 points and Charles Leclerc trailing in seventh with 188 points. The one who finishes higher on Sunday between Sainz and Alonso will secure a better points position, while Norris could overtake both of them with a podium finish if neither finishes in the top four.
The battle for supremacy at Alpine
The closest rivalry between teammates is at Alpine, where Esteban Ocon trails Pierre Gasly by four points for 11th place in the standings. Ocon narrowed the gap by 12 points at Las Vegas with a fourth-place finish, while Gasly finished outside the points in 11th.
Both drivers have secured a podium finish this season, with Gasly’s average finish being 1.3 spots better than Ocon’s. However, don’t discount Ocon from overtaking Gasly with a solid weekend. A seventh-place finish earns six points and an eighth-place finish comes with four.
