This weekend’s race in Saudi Arabia features the head-to-head battle between Mercedes and Red Bull and Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. It’s the season’s second to last race.
The racing situation in Saudi Arabia is different, too. The circuit, which will be attempted for the first time in Friday practice, is 79 percent full out power, which will give a great advantage to the car that can go quick in a straight line but will also represent a disadvantage to drivers who have their entries work better with lower downforce.
Hamilton has dominated over the last two races but still finds himself trailing rival Max Verstappen by eight points. If Verstappen wins this weekend, and Hamilton finishes sixth or lower, the Dutchman will clinch the title. The Constructors Championship is just as tight, with five points separating Mercedes from second-place Red Bull.
Hamilton hopes that he can do what he has done recently and perform well in Abu Dhabi next weekend. If he does, then he’ll be the first man ever to win eight world championships.
The action is well worth watching, and it all begins on Friday morning with Free Practices, starting at 8:30a Eastern time on ESPNU and, later, at Noon on ESPN2.
