Latest on the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

After 21 races and an incredible amount of drama, the 2022 Formula One season finally reaches its climax on Sunday. The drivers head to Abu Dhabi for the final Grand Prix of the year, and whilst the drivers' and constructors' titles have been decided, there is still plenty riding on the race. Let’s look at some of the big talking points ahead of the season finale.

The race for second

Max Verstappen retained his world title over a month ago, but the race to finish runner-up in the Championship is going down to the wire. Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez are locked together on 290 points, which makes the race a straight shoot-out between the two drivers. The latest Formula One betting odds cannot separate the two drivers. They are both priced at 10/1 to win the race. In the event of neither driver scoring race points, Leclerc will finish second in the Championship, due to him having won more races.

Get a great deal from our recommended bookmaker!

The race for second (part 2)

Red Bull have romped the Constructors Championship, but both Mercedes and Ferrari can still finish second in the standings. For the majority of the season, Ferrari have been well ahead of their rivals. But a slight downturn in form for the Italians, coupled with a Mercedes resurgence (more on that below), means that there is just a 19 point gap between the teams. The best sports bookmakers clearly think that momentum is on the side of the Brits, both Mercedes drivers are priced much shorter for victory than their Ferrari rivals.

Are Mercedes back?

Their one-two finish in Brazil certainly suggests that Mercedes are on their back to the top of the F1 tree. However, it remains to be seen whether that form can be maintained. The big difference in Sao Paulo was that Mercedes were able to combine their strong race pace with a superb performance in qualifying. If George Russell and Lewis Hamilton can produce a similar weekend performance in Abu Dhabi, the team will go into 2023 with high hopes of returning to the top of the mountain.

Final hurrahs

Several drivers could be making their final F1 appearance this weekend. Most significantly, four time world champion Sebastian Vettel will be retiring after the race, bringing down the curtain on an incredible 15 year career. Daniel Ricciardo has yet to make his intentions clear for next season, but Sunday marks his last race for McLaren. Meanwhile, Nicholas Latifi and Mick Schumacher will be leaving the grid after failing to secure a drive for next season.

Friction at Red Bull

It’s been another record breaking season for the Constructors champions. But last weekend in Sao Paulo was a disastrous one for the Red Bull team. Both drivers finished outside of the podium places, and Verstappen had the indignity of being overtaken on two separate occasions. Worst still, the world champion refused to let Perez overtake him in the closing stages, thus depriving the Mexican of vital world championship points. Both drivers were clearly upset after the race, and it remains to be seen how their relationship continues. Perez has been vital to Verstappen’s success, so Red Bull will be hoping that their relationship gets back on track this weekend.

The best way to enjoy the final race of the F1 season is by checking out the best betting offers in the UK. This will enable you to get the best possible value from your Formula One bets.

Check out these top bookies for your F1 bets!