2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The **2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix** was a Formula 1.5 motor race held on 12 December 2021 at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Contested over a distance of 58 laps, the race was the twenty-second and final round of the 2021 Formula 1.5 World Championship. The race decided the drivers championship between Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr.

Norris secured his first F1.5 title over Carlos Sainz by nine points. Ferrari had already won the constructors championship at the previous race in Saudi Arabia. The race also marked the final race for Kimi Raikkonen who was retiring from the sport.

## Background

### Affects of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The race was originally scheduled to take place on 5 December, but it was rescheduled after the postponement of the Australian Grand Prix due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

### Circuit redevelopment

Yas Marina underwent redevelopment that shortened the track and the expected lap time in order to increase top speeds and overtaking opportunities. The chicane after turn 4 was removed, and the turn 5 hairpin (which was turn 7 before redevelopment) was widened. The four corner sequence of turns which was turns 11–14 became one banked turn 9. The radius of turns 12–15 (previously 17–20) were increased to allow cars to carry more speed, with the changes to turn 15 allowing cars to be able to travel flat out through the corner.

### Entrants

The drivers and teams were initially the same as the season entry list with no additional stand-in drivers for the race. Jack Aitken drove for Williams in the first practice session, in place of George Russell. Nikita Mazepin withdrew prior to the race after being tested positive for coronavirus, but was not replaced by the reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi because he had not taken part in a practice session prior to the race.

The Grand Prix marked the last F1.5 race for Kimi Raikkonen, who had announced his intention of retiring at the end of the championship. It also marked the last race for Antonio Giovinazzi, who is due to move to Formula E, and the final race for George Russell at Williams. This race also marked the last race for Honda, as the Japanese company ceases their engine supply to AlphaTauri, though they will provide assistance to Red Bull Powertrains, who take over the engine supply.

### Championship Standings and Permutations

The constructors championship had been wrapped up in the race prior to Abu Dhabi with Ferrari taking the honours ahead of McLaren. This meant McLaren couldn't equal the record of 3 consecutive constructor championships in F1.5 which was acheived by Williams.

In the drivers championship, Carlos Sainz only had 2 ways of taking the title. If he was sucsessful he would become a double F1.5 champion. In order to do this he either needed to:

1. Win the race with Norris not finishing any higher than 9th and Leclerc 6th
2. Win the race with the fastest lap (earning 1 extra point) with Norris not finishing higher than 8th and Leclerc 5th.

As for Leclerc, he needed to outscore Norris by 7 points or more. The permuations are listed below.

### Tyre Choices

Sole tyre supplier Pirelli provided the C3, C4, and C5 tyre compounds—the softest selections available—for use in dry conditions.

## Practice

Three practice sessions were scheduled over the course of the weekend. The first session took place at 13:30 local time (UTC+04:00) on Friday 10 December. The second session took place at 17:00. The third session took place at 14:00 on Saturday 11 December. The first practice session passed without incident and ended with Yuki Tsunoda setting the fastest time, followed by Fernando Alonso and Pierre Gasly. The second practice session ended with Esteban Ocon fastest to Alonso and Tsunoda. Kimi Räikkönen crashed at turn 14 just as the session was concluding, but was unhurt.

## Qualifying

Qualifying started at 17:00 local time on Saturday 11 December. The first qualifying session was briefly suspended after a Haas driver collided with a bollard but was resumed without further incident.

## Race

The race started at 17:00 local time on Sunday 12 December. On lap 26, Kimi Räikkönen collided with the barriers at turn 6, prompting his retirement due to brake issues. On the same lap, George Russell retired in his final race for Williams due to gearbox issues. On lap 35, Antonio Giovinazzi retired his car alongside the track due to gearbox issues, which triggered a brief virtual safety car period. On lap 53, a crash for Nicholas Latifi brought out the safety car.

Sainz won the race ahead of Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly. Tsunoda achieved his maiden podium in F1.5. Lando Norris wont the drivers championship by 9 points over Carlos Sainz.

## Championship Standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings

  1
  1
  1

Constructors' Championship standings

## External Links

1. ↑  Includes 1 point for fastest Lap
2. ↑  Nikita Mazepin withdrew before the race as he tested positive for coronavirus. His place on the grid was left vacant.