IT'S RACE WEEK: 6 storylines we're excited about ahead of the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

23 races down, one to go. Formula 1’s record-breaking season comes to a close this weekend, but there are still plenty of stories to get stuck into. Here are some of the topics that are likely to be the focus at the final round in Abu Dhabi.

The constructors’ championship finale

McLaren had a chance to wrap up the constructors’ championship on Sunday in Qatar, but a dramatic race saw Red Bull ruled out of the running – despite winning through Max Verstappen – and Ferrari remain in the hunt.

Second place for Charles Leclerc and sixth for Carlos Sainz helped close the gap to 21 points, with Oscar Piastri third and Lando Norris recovering from a penalty to finish tenth and score an extra point for the fastest lap.

McLaren remain heavy favourites and the equation is simple in the sense that if they win the race in Abu Dhabi with one of their cars they will be champions. That’s because the most Ferrari could outscore them by would be nine points courtesy of a second, third and the fastest lap.

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - NOVEMBER 30: Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4) McLaren MCL38 — McLaren will be looking to wrap up the constructors' this weekend with Ferrari fighting hard

If a McLaren finishes second, then Ferrari would need to win and finish third, while a third place for a McLaren would require Ferrari to again win and finish no lower than fifth if they score the fastest lap, or fourth if they don’t.

Those scenarios only involve one McLaren scoring, of course, but show just how tough it will be for Ferrari to turn the situation around. Even a Ferrari one-two with the fastest lap – scoring the maximum 44 points – wouldn’t be enough if McLaren finish third and fifth.

But it’s not just the championship up for grabs. A number of other positions are still to be decided, too, with the fight for sixth overall particularly close.

Pierre Gasly’s excellent fifth place in Qatar has given Alpine a stronger hold on the position, but they are still just five points clear of Haas who have scored points in seven of the past eight races. RB are eight points behind Haas and 13 adrift of Alpine, so certainly not out of it, but they would need a chaotic race to get in the P6 mix.

Williams are 29 points adrift of RB so need something above and beyond chaotic to gain a spot, while Sauber’s score in Qatar means they are 13 points behind the rest of the field in 10th place.

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - DECEMBER 01: Fifth placed finisher Pierre Gasly of France and Alpine F1 talks — Gasly's fifth in Qatar helped give Alpine a boost in their hopes to secure P6 in the championship

Doohan’s debut

The rumour mill moved quickly on Sunday in Qatar as it became clear there could be a change at Alpine, and so it was confirmed on Monday when the team announced Jack Doohan will replace Esteban Ocon this weekend in Abu Dhabi.

The move essentially brings forward the 2025 line-up one race early, with Doohan already confirmed as Haas-bound Ocon’s replacement next year. Ocon will now be allowed to take part in the post-season test in Abu Dhabi for Haas, but has drive his final race for Alpine.

ANALYSIS: Why Alpine chose to release Ocon with one race left and give Doohan his debut in Abu Dhabi

As mentioned above, Alpine have sixth place in the constructors’ championship to defend so this will not be an easy weekend for Doohan, who will need to deliver to help them keep Haas at bay. But the Australian rookie has tested in Abu Dhabi before in old F1 machinery, so it’s a track he should be familiar with.

And if other rookie appearances this year are anything to go by, Doohan could be one to keep an eye on.

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - DECEMBER 01: Jack Doohan of Australia and Alpine F1 looks on in the Paddock — Jack Doohan will make his F1 race debut for Alpine in Abu Dhabi

Hamilton’s Mercedes farewell

The most successful partnership in Formula 1 history is set to come to an end this weekend, as Lewis Hamilton makes his final start for Mercedes.

Over the past 12 seasons, Hamilton has won six drivers’ titles with Mercedes, as well as a total of 84 victories that are both records with one team, helping Mercedes secure eight constructors’ titles in the process.

The last drivers’ championship came in 2020 but after a two-year drought there were more wins this year, with Hamilton particularly emotional after his success at Silverstone.

A new chapter of Hamilton’s career awaits at Ferrari, but first he is sure to get a special send-off from his current team, to bring the curtain down on an iconic partnership that has a guaranteed place in F1’s history.

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - DECEMBER 01: Twelfth placed finisher Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and — Hamilton will make his final appearance for Mercedes in Abu Dhabi before his move to Ferrari

Final drivers’ standings

It’s true that the main focus for the drivers at the front of the grid is winning the championship, and everything beyond that as a distant second. But when it comes to the final round, it becomes clear which results will have an impact on the final standings, and everyone wants to finish as high up as possible.

Lando Norris looked poised to secure second place ahead of Charles Leclerc courtesy of a strong weekend in Qatar, but his stop/go penalty completely changed the picture as Leclerc finished second to close the gap to just eight points.

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Their respective team mates Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz are also in competition for fourth overall, but that battle is more clear cut. Piastri currently holds a 19-point advantage, but Ferrari were predicting they would be more competitive in Abu Dhabi than Qatar ahead of the final triple-header, so you can’t rule out a Sainz win here.

Hamilton can also theoretically overhaul George Russell but he’d need a victory and for his team-mate not to score more than a single point.

Formula 1 header template - 2024-12-04T173606.481.png — Leclerc and Norris are separated by just eight points going into Abu Dhabi

For a driver in a car outside the top five in the constructors’ championship, a place in the top ten of the drivers’ standings comes with added satisfaction, and that battle is largely between Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly. The pair are separated by just one point – in Hulkenberg’s favour – but don’t rule out Yuki Tsunoda from six points behind Gasly either.

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Uncertain futures

No drivers are officially retiring at this stage in their careers, but for many this weekend is set to be their final Formula 1 start for the foreseeable future. With a number of rookies joining the grid next season, Valtteri Bottas, Kevin Magnussen and Zhou Guanyu are all without race seats for 2025, while Franco Colapinto is also coming to the end of his interim spell racing for Williams.

Of that quartet, Colapinto has put himself in the frame to potentially be picked up by Red Bull should there be a change of line-up across the two teams they own, but he is currently due to drop off the grid.

Technically, Liam Lawson also doesn’t have his future confirmed, with RB only having stated he would drive until the end of this season when he replaced Daniel Ricciardo. The expectation is he will at least remain with the team in 2025, if he doesn't get a shot in the Red Bull should Sergio Perez be replaced.

Perez currently has a contract for the next two seasons but Red Bull have communicated they will be presenting potential other options to their shareholders after this weekend’s race, so a change could be made following a disappointing season for the 34-year-old.

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - NOVEMBER 29: 13th placed qualifier Valtteri Bottas of Finland and Stake F1 — Bottas is just one of the drivers who won't be back on the grid in 2025

An F2 champion to be crowned

A thrilling pair of races last weekend have left Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar separated by just half a point at the top of the F2 standings arriving in Abu Dhabi, with an exhilarating title-deciding round in store.

Paul Aron can’t be ruled out of the fight either, although with a 25.5-point deficit to overcome he remains an outsider to keep an eye on.

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The small gap between the top two mean the title is guaranteed to be decided in the Feature Race on Sunday at Yas Marina Circuit, although the Saturday Sprint could still have a major impact.

Bortoleto’s future is already confirmed at Sauber in 2025, while Hadjar has been linked with a potential RB race seat should one become available. So it could well be two future F1 drivers fighting it out for the championship this weekend.