Skip to main content

F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2024 preview: The last race decides the Championship

Red Bull is out of the running for the top spot, but McLaren and Ferrari both have a chance.

Yas Marina Circuit for the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2024.
Courtesy of Formula 1

The 2024 F1 racing season ends with the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 6 to 8. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen locked in the Drivers’ Championship during the Las Vegas Grand Prix, but the Constructors’ Championship remains undecided as Ferrari still has a chance to outscore McLaren to win the biggest team prize of the season.

The challenges of the Yas Marina Circuit

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is run on the Yas Marina Circuit. It consists of 58 laps of the 3.28-mile track, or 190.14 miles. Max Verstappen set the lap record in 2021 at 1:26.103 (minutes: seconds). Verstappen won the race in 2023 when Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc came in second, and Mercedes driver George Russell was third.

Recommended Videos

The track has sixteen turns, with two DRS zones allowing overtaking. The current weather forecast is for highs in the 80s. The track temperatures will be higher, which could make staying cool a challenge during the race.

The Constructors’ Championship is at stake

McLaren currently has 640 Constructors’ Championship points. There is a potential for any team to win a total of 44 points (during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, so Ferrari’s current 619-point total puts the team in reach of the prize. Red Bull cannot win the Championship, although they could place second if Verstappen and Sergio Perez finish in the top three and Ferrari doesn’t gain more than four points – neither of which outcome is likely. The McLaren and Ferrari race cars have been exceptionally fast recently, and both drivers have delivered, so it’s possible that either team could win.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix schedule

The best way to watch F1 race events live is with F1TV Pro, a subscription streaming service from Formula 1. The paid service includes an option to choose a cockpit view from any of the 20 race cars live, pre- and post-race shows, archives of past races and seasons, and much more. ESPN subscribers can also watch the races live with the additional content. F1TV also has a free, ad-supported version that posts race replays five days after the race.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Race Event Date Local Time (UTC +4) U.S. Time (EDT)
Free Practice December 6 1:30 PM 4:30 AM
Free Practice December 6 5:00 PM 8:00 AM
Free Practice December 7 2:30 PM 5:30 AM
Qualifying December 7 6:00 PM 9:00 AM
Grand Prix December 8 5:00 PM 8:00 AM
Bruce Brown
A Digital Trends Contributing Editor and Contributor for TheManual.com, Bruce Brown writes e-mobility reviews and covers…
Ultimate Las Vegas Grand Prix views at the Bellagio Fountain Club: tickets on sale now
Watch the Las Vegas Grand Prix viewing the longest straightaway of the track
Arial view of the Bellagio Fountain Club, Bellagio Fountains, and the Strip.

Tickets are now on sale for the Bellagio Fountain Club during the Formula 1 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix 2025, November 20-22. Located on the Strip in front of the famous Bellagio Fountains, this is one of the best spots in Las Vegas to watch the race from its view of the longest straightaway of the track.
The Bellagio Fountain Club's premium hospitality

The Bellagio Fountain Club offers expansive indoor and rooftop spaces with comfortable seating areas, bars, beverage stations, celebrity chefs, DJs, and great entertainment. It's the perfect place to relax and enjoy the event with friends.

Read more
F1 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix preview: a hot race in the desert
Three DRS zones with long straightaways allow many chances to overtake at Bahrain
bwt alpine formula one team announces partnership with viagogo f1 race car on the track in bahrain during pre season testing

The fourth race of the 2025 F1 World Championship series is in Bahrain this weekend, April 11 to 13. The Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2025 occurs at the Bahrain International Circuit.

The race track is 3.363 miles long, and the Grand Prix consists of 57 laps. Three DRS zones and three long straightaways provide drivers with many opportunities for overtaking and passing, making the race exciting and dramatic.

Read more
Tickets on sale from $50 for November 2025 Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix
There are more ticket options and more ways to view the race than last year
T-Mobile Grandstands.

Tickets are available for purchase now for this year's F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, November 20-22. After successful events in 2023 and 2024, the renamed 2025 Formula 1 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix will have more grandstand seating, increased ticket options, enhanced fan zones, and more ways to be part of the exciting Grand Prix experience done in Vegas-style.

Formula 1 returned to Las Vegas in 2023 for the first time since the 1960s.  Despite some glitches in using public streets for much of the race circuit, the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix was a success, surpassing expectations. The 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix was an even bigger win, leading to this year's expanded viewing options and fan experiences.
Changes for the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix

Read more