The last round of the season "anticipated" in the last ten days of November due to the World Cup in Qatar which will start almost simultaneously with the green light in Abu Dhabi, still sees high stakes on the players' table. We all still remember Abu Dhabi 2021. A race in which the last few laps awarded the title due to an accident that was a bit the genesis of many things. Starting with Michael Masi's out, Lewis Hamilton's break from social media deeply burned by the defeat. The celebrations of Max Verstappen, who abandoned his trademark, the number 33 to dress up, with gold shoes and helmet, with the number 1, the number of champions that he will be able to keep even in 2023. The promises in part maintained by Ferrari, third on the podium with Sainz, to return to fight for something bigger.
The last act
At stake in this last act of the world championship are two important confirmations, which would also give meaning to the promises made in 2021. Ferrari, currently grappling with a deep internal rift that has fueled the rumors about the ban of the team principal Mattia binotto starting from 2023, he must file the season in the position of vice-champion in both the standings manufacturers, which pilots are currently disputed between Leclerc and Perez. Making sense of the sacrifices made to get back into the fight for the world championship, even if with too many shortcomings.
Sacrifices also made by Mercedes, from total darkness at the beginning of the season to their first victory in Brazil, with a juicy one-two finish. Furthermore, in Abu Dhabi, greetings will be more bitter than usual. Hag, Ricciardo, Latifs, Schumacher, will greet the top category here. Some with the hope of returning, others with the hope of having left their contribution, a very personal sign imprinted on the asphalt and beyond. Expectations for the fourteenth Abu Dhabi GP are high, however, let's see for the last time which predictions at Fanta F1 could come true.
Our predictions at Fanta F1
Safety Car: YES
Abu Dhabi will be the last shot to make its mark. In a season strongly determined by Safety, given the difficulties brought by the new single-seaters, we are attempting this route for the last time.
Virtual Safety Car: YES
Brazil has reserved us an unpleasant surprise with the Virtual. We will no longer doubt her power.
Red Flag: NO
Definitely more difficult to predict a Red Flag.
Drivers distinguish between wet/full wet tires in the race: DO NOT
Here too, great disappointment for Brazil which deceived us with its unsteady weather. In Abu Dhabi, however, the music is very different. Around 28-30 degrees are expected for Sunday, no clouds and a dry track.
Team double in the race: DO NOT
We are still here. Lewis Hamilton he wants his first victory of the season, but a one-two in Abu Dhabi, like the one in Brazil, is difficult for Mercedes to achieve. Long straights can make Red Bull shine again. We expect a mixed podium, with the three forces at the top.
Driver who starts on pole wins the race: SI
Out of 13 GPs disputed here, 8 ended with the Poleman on the top step of the podium. From 2015 onwards there has never been a winner other than the poleman. Although Magnussen's Pole in Brazil was poetic, we believe that the poleman in this case could also be the first to cross the finish line.
Stables to bring both riders into the top 10: 4
As a last forecast, we choose 4 as the number of teams to bring both drivers into the top 10
Drivers forced to retire: 3
With editions with 1 withdrawn and some with 6-7 withdrawn it is useless to average. Wanting to jump in though, let's assume 3.
