The Abu Dhabi GP has witnessed some some of the greatest moments in F1’s recent history.
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, 2021 Abu Dhabi GP (Via IMAGO)
The Abu Dhabi GP is the final round of the F1 season. The season finale takes place at the most expensive F1 circuit in history. The Yas Marina Circuit was reportedly constructed at the cost of $1 Billion. The track has a length of 5.2km or 3.2 miles with 16 corners. The race has seen some exciting action over the years.
The inaugural Abu Dhabi GP was held in 2009 with Sebastian Vettel crossing the chequered flag in first place for Red Bull. Since 2014, the Yas Marina Circuit has paid $20 Million every year to Formula 1 to host the season finale. This has led to multiple championships being decided on Yas Island over the years.
Despite not being a fan favorite in terms of track layout and racing, the Abu Dhabi GP has given fans some thrilling moments. The track has also witnessed some heavy incidents such as Nico Rosberg‘s massive crash with Narain Karthikayen in 2012. This article delves into the Top 5 most exciting moments at Yas Marina.
Here are the Top 5 moments at the Abu Dhabi GP
5. Danke Seb – 2022
Sebastian Vettel is one of the all-time greats in F1’s modern era. The four-time world champion held several records to his name during his F1 career. However, Vettel shocked the entire sporting world with his retirement in 2022. Subsequently, the F1 grid prepared a special goodbye for the German driver at the 2022 Abu Dhabi GP.
Sebastian Vettel, 2022 Abu Dhabi GP (Via IMAGO)
The four-time world champion gathered the entire paddock during the weekend for a farewell track run at Yas Marina. Everyone wore special t-shirts to thank the F1 legend. Moreover, Vettel was greeted by the entire grid before the start of the race with several drivers including Fernando Alonso bringing special helmet designs to pay tribute to the 36-year-old.
On our last trip to Abu Dhabi we bid farewell to Sebastian Vettel in Formula 1 for the final time 🥹#AbuDhabiGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/9WK7OoXG2h
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 22, 2023
After the race, Sebastian Vettel ended his F1 career with donuts on the Yas Marina main straight. The four-time world champion was overwhelmed as he said goodbye to the pinnacle of motorsport after a long and successful career.
4. Lewis Hamilton title victory – 2014
The 2014 Abu Dhabi GP was the first and only race in F1 history to award double points to the Top 10. F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone wanted to make the season finale more entertaining through this endeavor. Heading into the Yas Marina weekend, Lewis Hamilton led Nico Rosberg by 17 points.
Lewis Hamilton 2014 Abu Dhabi GP (Via IMAGO)
Hamilton took the lead in the race from his teammate at Turn 1. The British driver extended his lead with Rosberg struggling with power unit issues throughout the race. Nico Rosberg lost the Energy Recovery System or ERS on his car. While Lewis Hamilton tried to manage the car to avoid a similar fate.
Lewis Hamilton took his second title – the first with the Silver Arrows – after taking the win at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix #OTD in 2014! 🏆
How many of us believed the era of domination it would begin? 🤔#Hamilton #Rosberg #Mercedes #AbuDhabiGP #F1 #Formula1 pic.twitter.com/qMaozjsk5n
— PlanetF1 (@Planet_F1) November 23, 2023
In the end, the Briton crossed the chequered flag to win the 2014 Abu Dhabi GP and won his second F1 world champion. Nico Rosberg finished fourteenth in the race as he refused to retire the car. This title victory was the first for Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes with the 38-year-old winning five more titles in the future.
3. Nico Rosberg title victory – 2016
Two years later, it was Nico Rosberg who enjoyed a 12-point lead over Hamilton heading into the Abu Dhabi GP. The German driver only needed to be on the podium to secure his maiden F1 championship. Lewis Hamilton started from pole position and kept the lead of the race. However, the Briton resorted to a controversial strategy to win the title.
Nico Rosberg, 2016 Abu Dhabi GP (Via IMAGO)
Hamilton deliberately slowed down during certain parts of the circuit to allow Sebastian Vettel to potentially make a move on his teammate. This would put Rosberg’s title chances in danger as he tried to stay close to Hamilton. The Mercedes pit wall warned the Briton to increase his pace to secure the race win. However, Lewis Hamilton made it clear that he was focused solely on winning the championship.
A title fight which went down to the wire 🥊
Nico Rosberg clinched his maiden title in the final round of the 2016 season 🏆#AbuDhabiGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/2hqNTAxjOv
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 22, 2023
As the race ended, Nico Rosberg finished P2 and took the 2016 F1 title at the Abu Dhabi GP. The German driver had finally achieved his dream after a hard-fought battle with his teammate. Just five days later, Rosberg would announce his retirement from Formula 1.
2. Sebastian Vettel title victory – 2010
The 2010 F1 world championship went down to the wire till the Abu Dhabi GP season finale. Four drivers were in contention for the title with Fernando Alonso leading the championship from Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel. Lewis Hamilton had an unlikely outside chance to clinch the championship as well.
Sebastian Vettel, 2010 Abu Dhabi GP (Via IMAGO)
Vettel started from pole position and stormed off into the distance. Red Bull pitted Webber in the early stages of the race with Ferrari bringing Alonso to the pits to cover the Australian driver. Ultimately, Alonso and Webber were stuck behind backmarkers for the rest of the race. This allowed a young Sebastian Vettel to win his maiden F1 title.
— @RBR_Daily (@RedBullUpdates) November 14, 2023
The German driver became the youngest F1 world champion in history. With team boss Christian Horner congratulating him on the team radio. Certainly, it was a night to remember at the Abu Dhabi GP as F1 saw the rise of a new world champion.
Honorable Mention – Kimi Raikkonen 2012
Kimi Raikkonen returned to F1 in 2012 with Lotus Renault. The Finnish driver spent a couple of seasons outside the sport after being paid by Ferrari to sit out in 2010. However, Raikkonen had lost no touch during his sabbatical from the pinnacle of motorsport as he achieved decent results on his return.
Kimi Raikkonen 2012 Abu Dhabi GP (Via IMAGO)
The Finnish driver moved up to second place from P4 at Turn 1 and was right behind race leader Lewis Hamilton. Subsequently, Raikkonen continued to pressure the Briton for the race lead. Eventually, Kimi Raikkonen inherited the lead after Hamilton was forced to retire the car.
— @RBR_Daily (@RedBullUpdates) November 14, 2023
Additionally, the Finn lashed out on the team radio mid-way through the race and told his engineer to leave things to him. Raikkonen said, “Leave me alone, I know what I’m doing.” Ultimately, the 2007 F1 champion came home to win the 2012 Abu Dhabi GP.
1. Max Verstappen vs Lewis Hamilton – 2021
The 2021 F1 world championship is often considered the greatest in the sport’s recent history. Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton went head-to-head throughout the season. The two drivers headed into the Abu Dhabi GP with equal points. Subsequently, the driver who would finish ahead of his rival would be crowned the 2021 world champion.
Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton 2021 Abu Dhabi GP (Via wwo.nine.com.au)
Max Verstappen started from pole position but lost the lead to Hamilton. The two drivers continued to tussle for the lead. Hamilton managed to take advantage of his tire strategy and enjoyed a decent gap to the Dutch driver.
Moreover, after the first round of pitstops, Sergio Perez was instructed by Red Bull to defend aggressively against Hamilton. The Mexican put on a strong defense and helped the Dutchman close the gap to the Mercedes. On Lap 53, Nicholas Latifi crashed out of the race, leading to a safety car. Hamilton stayed out while Verstappen pitted.
Has one lap ever contained so much emotion? 🍿#AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 @redbullracing pic.twitter.com/SY4oWS5qML
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 13, 2021
This led to the most controversial decision in F1 history, Race Director Michael Masi instructed the five lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to unlap themselves for one lap of racing. However, other lapped cars were not allowed to do the same. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff lashed out on team radio against this decision. Yet, the race went ahead with Verstappen taking the lead from Hamilton.
Subsequently, Max Verstappen was crowned the 2021 world champion. However, the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP was later reviewed by the FIA, and Michael Masi was sacked from Race Direction. To this day, it remains a controversial moment in F1 history. Toto Wolff still claims that Hamilton was robbed of the 2021 title.
