Dear Fantamanagers, the last race weekend of a difficult and long season awaits us, but which has given us a unique show and mixed emotions. Before closing this chapter, and the first year of Fanta F1 with advice in Abu Dhabi, we wanted to thank you. We didn't expect such a response, in numbers, in participation, in the enthusiasm that in some races made you say "but why didn't I deploy it?“, and in others maybe cheering for a last place from Latifi.
It may be just a game, but what we have been able to see is a community that has put itself 100% into the game, sharing first of all a passion that unites us all, and which has also made us more sporty. In Abu Dhabi, emotions mix with the noise of the pits, of the engines, partly because it is the last race before turning off the spotlights on this season, partly because we will put all that nostalgia into Vettel's final laps.
Partly also because we hope for beautiful fairy tales, and see a success of Lewis Hamilton or Leclerc, who covets him from the Austrian GP, would make sense of everything we've experienced so far. Like the beautiful fairy tale we saw in Brazil, for example. Dreaming doesn't hurt, but also observing things clearly as they are. For this reason, let's try one last time to give you our advice at Fanta, but reminding you to follow your instincts first.
Our recommendations for Abu Dhabi
The first tier teams battling for victory are Red Bull – Mercedes – Ferrari. In the dry lap the Ferrari can try to attack the time of the two other teams but on the race pace, in the FP2 no such encouraging data has emerged today. Leclerc at one point even asked his team "why are we so slow?“. The answer they gave him from the wall was: “Our pace is not that great compared to others".
There's still time to change set up and to do all possible experiments, however starting already with positive data is a significant advantage. Lewis is the only one of the 6 top team drivers not to have won a Grand Prix. Abu Dhabi is a track within his comfort zone, despite the bitter defeat in 2021. A fight between him and Max could recur again in 2022. The W13 has managed to adapt to all types of tracks from Austin onwards, an encouraging sign in view of 2023. However Abu Dhabi with its long straights is more suited to the natural habitat of the RB18.
Behind the riders from the top three teams came Ocon and Alonso in the Alpine, close to taking fourth place in the constructors' championship. McLaren with Ricciardo will have to serve 3 positions of penalty. He exalts himself in comebacks and fresh signing like third Red Bull driver it might cheer him up. Valtteri Bottas also managed to get into the top 10, author of a good race last Sunday. At Aston Martin, all attention will be focused on Sebastian Vettel. Deploying him will be more of a gesture of love than a tactical move but we believe it is a necessary tribute.
The teams we have chosen
TEAM 1: VERSTAPPEN, VETTEL, BOTTAS, RICCIARDO, LATIFI
TEAM 2: HAMILTON, ALONSO, VETTEL, BOTTAS, LATIFI
