Abu Dhabi GP Race Report: It finished with a whimper, but let's look at the big picture.
What do you think of when it comes to Formula One finales? Suzuka? Interlagos? Adelaide?
The F1 season finale has been hosted for nine out of the last twelve seasons in Abu Dhabi. As far as the facilities and organisation are concerned, Abu Dhabi seems to be pretty perfect. There's a floodlight track in a desert with a hotel above it and a marina next to it - a fine example of what money can buy being rather good. The only issue is that the track is, quite frankly, terrible. Despite this, I've still written a race report for you because there were still many talking points at the end of term.
Biggest Winner: McLaren
A couple of weeks ago, I suggested that the fight for third in the constructors' championship was looking in favour of McLaren. However, after Perez's victory in Sakhir, I feared that I had tempted fate. However, McLaren managed to snatch the lead back after a strong points finish from Norris and Sainz, an engine failure for Perez and an underwhelming performance from Stroll in the lower levels of the points.
Norris was brilliant all weekend, with a brilliant fourth position in qualifying and fifth in the race. When Ricciardo arrives in a few months, Lando will need to consistently perform like that because as friendly as Danny Ric is out of the car, he is a fierce competitor when the visor goes down. McLaren will miss Sainz, who I rate highly. Still, third in the championship is a massive comeback from recent times in which they arguable had the worst car. It feels right for McLaren to be top three in F1. Congratulations to them.
Biggest Loser: The fans
I tried to think of my favourite part of the track in Abu Dhabi. Unfortunately, it's the pit lane exit, which goes underground. DRS can sometimes aid overtaking on the two long straights. However, the action is minimal because there is an off-camber hairpin preceding the main straight. So there isn't a lot of overtaking. But Monaco and Imola are still great tracks, you might say. You'd be correct, but they are great tracks because they are challenging. Lewis Hamilton was still pretty ill as he recovers from Coronavirus, Abu Dhabi was doable. However, he would not have been able to drive the streets of Monaco, that is for sure.
So an uninteresting and easy track meant that millions around the world tuned in to fall asleep. If I lived in the US, I probably would have gone back to bed.
But let's not be too negative because this was the 17th and final race of a season of which we wondered would ever take place. I doubt we will ever have such a compact season of F1, with races coming almost as regularly as football matches, which require hardly any logistics, in comparison. F1 will have lost money this season, but they kept a sport alive, and that should be celebrated however boring the final race was.
Highlight of the Race: There wasn't one, but...
I'm going to extend this award to the weekend so that I can give the great accolade to Fernando Alonso. The Spanish champion was thrashing the old Renault from 2005 around the track and hearing the V10 on the TV was stunning. I'd imagine that in person, the sound must've knocked your socks off after seven years of quieter hybrid engines. While we all know why this was a blast from the past and not something that will return soon, it was great to search Alonso giving it his all in a much nimbler car than those driven by the drivers of today.
As a 39-year-old double world champion, Fernando is somewhat experienced to be driving in the 'Young Driver Test' this week. But he's trying to get all the mileage that he can under his belt so that he hits the ground running next season. Only Fernando would manage to get himself into that test - he's a competitive, wily old fox and I can't wait to see him fighting in Formula One next year.
Honourable Mention: Max Verstappen
Let's not forget who won the race dominantly. Max showed his class with a superb lap in qualifying and then followed it up with a well-controlled drive from lights to flag on Sunday. This year, he has been unlucky not to come second in the drivers' championship through reliability issues and a few incidents. Nevertheless, he has been increasingly mature and consistent as he continues to improve as a man and driver.
I wonder what the long-term plan is for Max. He's so talented and has more experience than most for his age - as shown by his drive this weekend. But he has committed to Red Bull while his likely challengers of the future, Leclerc and Russell have sewn up seats in the other top teams. Red Bull are a fantastic team with plenty of resources and knowledge of how to win, so why haven't they? Yes, Mercedes continue to go from strength to strength, but they're not invincible, as shown by the past two races. Red Bull seem always to have an Achilles Heel - be it an underperforming driver or a poor engine. Will Max get bored with being the nearly man?
'AJontheLine Line of the Weekend': Vettel's Radio
This weekend was quite emotional in that it was the final farewell for many of the drivers. Vettel, Ricciardo and Sainz were leaving their respective teams and Perez, Magnesun and Kvyat knew it could be their last race in F1. There were many lovely messages on the radio and a lot of love bouncing around a sport that gets a cold-hearted reputation. The best farewell, for me, came from Sebastian Vettel, who was leaving Ferrari, having been given the sack before the season has begun.
Seb hid the lyrics to the famous 1960s Italian song 'Azzurro' in his car. After finishing the race, he sang on the radio for his team before thanking them in tears. Sebastian loves Ferrari with immense passion and in good times and bad his radio messages have shown that. I still get goosebumps listening to his joy upon winning his first race for the Scuderia back in 2015.
The German champion would then swap helmets with Charles Leclerc (who donned a helmet thanking Seb), and wrote a lovely message to Charles which I shall let you go and read. The final shot of Seb in red on the TV saw him handing out beers to all of his team. The guy is a gentleman and a role model for anyone. I hope that Seb does well at Aston Martin next year - he deserves it.
Typically, I have found a fair amount to talk about for a race of few highlights. Thank you for reading my reports this season. I hope you've found them at least a bit insightful.
As Seb would say, Grazie regazzi!