Formula One 2024 is now down to one last race. It’s the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and the big prize—the Constructor’s Championship—will be settled on Sunday.
With one race remaining on this season’s Formula One calendar this weekend in Abu Dhabi and Max Verstappen having already clinched the Driver’s Championship, the Constructor’s Championship is the last major title left to claim. That race is down to two teams, McLaren and Ferrari, with McLaren ahead by 21 points. While it seems strange that Red Bull Racing is out of it, Sergio Perez’s poor performance this year is the reason.
The race is also significant for these drivers but for different reasons.
–Following so many successful seasons at Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton will be saying goodbye to his former team and will leave for Ferrari at the end of the year.
–At the same time, Carlos Sainz will depart The Prancing Horse and head to Williams, where he will replace Franco Colapinto.
–Both Sauber drivers Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas say goodbye to their team and will be replaced by Nico Hulkenberg and rookie Gabriel Bortoletto.
–Then there is Esteban Ocon, who was let go from his Alpine team and will depart following the last race to test with his new Haas team. Current tester Jack Doohan will replace Ocon.
–With his poor performances at Red Bull this year, Sergio Perez could also be departing, but at this point, it is not clear if that will happen. But some sources say this could occur, opening a spot on the team to drive along Verstappen, which could be a real tussle for whoever gets the seat.
With the winter break looming, the teams will gear up for what should be an equally exciting 2025. But before that begins, the teams will take to the track one more time. Friday’s practice sessions will be televised at 4:30 AM and 8 AM by ESPN2 and ESPNU, respectively. Saturday’s qualifying begins at 9 AM on ESPN, while the season’s final race will commence at 8 AM on ESPN2.
