NEED TO KNOW: The most important facts, stats and trivia ahead of the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

After a jam-packed season, the 2024 F1 campaign comes to a close with this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Need to Know is your all-in-one guide with stats, trivia, insight and much more. You can also see how fans have voted using our F1 Play predictor game.

After the Sprint format featured last time out in Qatar, it’s back to the traditional weekend schedule for this round. FP1 and FP2 will take place on Friday, December 6, followed by FP3 and qualifying on Saturday, December 7 and the Grand Prix itself on Sunday, December 8.

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Vital statistics

• First Grand Prix – 2009
• Track Length – 5.281km
• Lap record – 1m 26.103s, Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 2021
• Most pole positions – Lewis Hamilton (5)
• Most wins – Lewis Hamilton (5)
• Trivia – Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg and Max Verstappen all sealed their maiden F1 world titles in Abu Dhabi
• Pole run to Turn 1 braking point – 194 metres
• Overtakes completed in 2023 – 113
• Safety Car probability – 38%*
• Virtual Safety Car probability – 38%*
• Pit stop time loss – 21.93 seconds

*From the last eight races in Abu Dhabi

FAN VIEW: McLaren’s Lando Norris is just favoured by early F1 Play gamers to take the final pole of the season at Abu Dhabi. He shades Red Bull’s world champion Max Verstappen, with Ferrari star Charles Leclerc accounting for most of the remainder in a close battle up front.

The driver’s verdict

Jolyon Palmer, former Renault F1 driver: The circuit has been improved as it used to be quite fiddly, but they’ve got rid of the wishy-washy chicanes that are now Turn 5 and Turn 9.

As a result, it’s a much quicker circuit and better for racing. There are good overtaking opportunities under braking into Turn 6 and then at the exit toward Turn 9.

The triple right-hander near the end of the lap is the trickiest part. You’re blind braking into Turn 12, so it’s easy to make a mistake. It’s been widened, but Turn 13 is still tricky and it’s important to get the car placement right.

The final sector is the least enjoyable to drive in many ways, but it’s where you can win or lose a huge amount of time.

As the last race of the season, it’s always a nice feel overall.

ONBOARD: Max Verstappen’s 2023 Pirelli Pole Position Award lap at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Last five Abu Dhabi GP pole-sitters

• 2023 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
• 2022 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
• 2021 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
• 2020 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
• 2019 – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

Last five Abu Dhabi GP winners

• 2023 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
• 2022 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
• 2021 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
• 2020 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
• 2019 – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

FAN VIEW: Dutchman Verstappen is the clear favourite amongst F1 Play gamers to end the season with a win. He has 59% of the vote, with Norris second favourite on 18%. Leclerc and Mercedes’ George Russell pick up almost all of the rest of the votes.

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Tyre and strategy insight

“Thanks to significant changes to the track layout introduced in 2021, the 5.281 kilometre track is much faster and flowing, with several overtaking opportunities,” reads Pirelli’s weekend preview.

“In general, the forces exerted on the tyres are in the medium to low range, because of the lack of high speed corners. The surface offers little grip and its level of abrasiveness is average for the season.

“Temperatures will play an important role, with two of the three free practice sessions taking place in daylight, while FP2 and the race get underway at sunset with all of qualifying taking place at night.

“Therefore, track conditions can change quickly as temperatures drop and they will also evolve rapidly as the track rubbers in, especially on the first two days, helped by the fact there are three support categories on the card this weekend – F4 UAE, F1 ACADEMY and F2.

“On a track where graining could have a significant impact and where, as previously mentioned, overtaking is possible, a two-stop strategy certainly seems preferable, as indeed was the case last year.

“Furthermore, the undercut is very effective and, in order for a one-stop to work, it requires a great deal of tyre management to limit performance drop off.”

FAN VIEW: Oscar Piastri in the other McLaren is seen as the biggest dark horse for a podium spot, which would wrap up an impressive season from the young Australian. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz is also well supported by F1 Play gamers.

Current form

It might be the last race of the season but there are still plenty of talking points remaining for the finale in Abu Dhabi, not least the matter of deciding the constructors’ championship.

Leaders McLaren initially looked to have put one hand on the trophy at the penultimate round in Qatar when they scored a one-two result in Saturday’s Sprint. However, the Woking squad were outscored by rivals Ferrari come Sunday, with Lando Norris dropping down from what looked to be a certain podium to 10th place after receiving a 10-second stop/go penalty.

This helped the Scuderia to close the gap down to 21 points, meaning that they are still in contention to take the title. But to do so would require not only a strong outing in Abu Dhabi for the Scuderia but a tough one for McLaren, given that even a one-two finish – complete with scoring the fastest lap – would not be enough to seal the championship.

There is also a potential battle at play between Norris and Charles Leclerc for P2 in the drivers’ standings, with that aforementioned penalty for Norris dropping his advantage over Leclerc to just eight points.

Red Bull are mathematically out of the running for the constructors’, yet it was world champion Max Verstappen who especially caught the eye in Qatar, having bounced back from a one-place grid penalty to surge into the lead and take victory. Can he continue that form to close off his fourth title-winning year in style?

On the other side of the garage, Sergio Perez’s future remains unclear following a difficult season for the Mexican, while RB are yet to confirm who will race alongside Yuki Tsunoda at the squad in 2025, though Liam Lawson looks to be the most likely candidate.

Speaking of RB, the Red Bull sister outfit remain in a hotly-contested fight for sixth alongside Haas and Alpine – on a weekend where the latter will be fielding a new name in the form of Jack Doohan, whose debut has been brought forward from 2025 as he replaces Esteban Ocon. Can the Australian impress ahead of his first full campaign next year?

FAN VIEW: Riding high after his fifth-place finish in Qatar, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly is seen as a near certainty by F1 Play gamers for a finish in the points this weekend. Haas’s Kevin Magnussen, who has been solid all season and sits 10th in the drivers’ standings, has his usual strong backing.

Race Highlights: 2024 Qatar Grand Prix

Iconic moment

There have been loads of thrilling battles and title-deciding weekends in Abu Dhabi over the years, meaning no shortage of options to choose from for our final iconic moment of the season.

However, after digging through the archives, we have selected the 2010 showdown where Red Bull team mates Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton all entered with a shot at title glory.

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What followed was a tense and dramatic encounter that saw Vettel, some 15 points off the title lead heading into the race, complete an incredible turnaround with a charge to victory over Hamilton while Webber and Alonso endured traffic-related nightmares.

Relive how the race unfolded from start to finish in the video player below...

Radio Rewind: The story of Abu Dhabi 2010

Elsewhere in Abu Dhabi

There’s more activity taking place this weekend as part of the wider Sustainability Strategy that Formula 1 introduced in 2019, which includes the goal of being Net Zero by 2030 and creating a more diverse sport that reflects the world in which we race.

💭 Inspiring the next generation

In the final event of the year, F1 ACADEMY will host a ‘Pathways to F4’ workshop for athletes in the Champions of the Future Academy programme. They will also host 20 local STEM teachers for a day of learning to help them inspire students to consider careers in motorsport. Local students will have an immersive at track experience to get insight from the F1 ACADEMY team and other women in the industry.

💚 Grounded in governance

The circuit has achieved a portfolio of sustainability certifications including ISO 14001, ISO 20121 and FIA Three Star Environmental Accreditation. The Ethara Edge, the promoter’s published sustainability strategy, is designed to provide a clear vision and actionable purpose to its efforts across their operated events and venues, focusing on four areas: responsible resource usage, water efficiency, a balanced energy mix and driving climate action.

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💡 Energy optimisation across the circuit

In their continuous work to optimise Yas Marina Circuit’s power consumption, all streetlights have been upgraded from halogen to state-of-the-art LED lighting. This initiative delivers a considerable energy saving by reducing energy consumption.

😊 Unforgettable experiences for the local community

Across the weekend the promoter is providing multiple opportunities for the local community to get involved in the event, including a Pit Lane Walk, Paddock tours for students of STEM programs, and the continuation of the long-running ‘Kids Go Free Friday’ programme.