The 2023 Formula 1 season comes to an end this weekend as the grid speeds into the Yas Marina Circuit for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Red Bull have already wrapped up both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships, with Max Verstappen winning the last six races.
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The Dutchman’s dominant season will take some stopping having won the last three Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
But attention will be on the battle for second in the standings, with Mercedes four points ahead of Ferrari after another poor race.
F1 pundit Danica Patrick claimed in Las Vegas that Toto Wolff appeared to be deflated by the Silver Arrows’ recent performances.
“They’ve got so much better throughout the year, but nothing to show for it,” Patrick told Sky.
“You can sense, Toto looked defeated, frustrated, tired maybe. Christian [Horner, Red Bull team principal] was talking about the timing of this event.
“It’s been a long year, everybody is wearing down. So I’m sure it’s feeling extra heavy to them now, especially when they have bad days. Especially when they get glimmers of hope.”
Abu Dhabi GP: Date and UK start time
The race weekend at the Yas Marina Circuit will take place from Friday, November 24 to Sunday, November 26.
Abu Dhabi is four hours ahead of the United Kingdom, with times at a much more agreeable hour for European fans than Las Vegas.
Practice One gets underway from 9:30am on Friday, with a second session then starting at 1pm.
A third and final practice kickstart Saturday’s action before qualifying gets underway at 2pm.
Light’s Out for the Grand Prix will take place at 1pm on Sunday.
Abu Dhabi GP: TV channel and live stream
The race weekend will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.
Coverage of the race is scheduled to begin at 11:30am on Sunday.
Sky Sports customers can live stream this via the app using their mobile, tablet or computer devices.
You can also purchase a Sky Sports Day Pass from NowTV for £11.98 while Channel Four will broadcast highlights later in the evening.
Fern Buckley will have updates from Abu Dhabi live on talkSPORT.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
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Abu Dhabi GP: What has been said?
Christian Horner has praised Sergio Perez’s Las Vegas performance after the Mexican sealed second place in the drivers’ championship.
“It’s something as a team we’ve never achieved before,” said Horner. “I mean what more can you ask for from your drivers than first and second in the championship?
“And [Perez’s] form, his pace was right there again today. The last two, three races he’s really been finding his form again.”
Abu Dhabi GP: Driver standings
Driver / Car / Points
- Max Verstappen / Red Bull Racing / 549 CHAMPION
- Sergio Perez / Red Bull Racing / 273
- Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes / 232
- Carlos Sainz / Ferrari / 200
- Fernando Alonso / Aston Martin / 200
- Lando Norris / McLaren / 195
- Charles Leclerc / Ferrari / 188
- George Russell / Mercedes / 160
- Oscar Piastri / McLaren / 89
- Lance Stroll / Aston Martin / 73
- Pierre Gasly / Alpine / 62
- Esteban Ocon / Alpine / 58
- Alexander Albon / Williams / 27
- Yuki Tsunoda / Alphatauri / 13
- Valtteri Bottas / Alfa Romeo / 10
- Nico Hulkenberg / Haas / 9
- Daniel Ricciardo / Alphatauri / 6
- Zhou Guanyu / Alfa Romeo / 6
- Kevin Magnussen / Haas / 3
- Liam Lawson / Alphatauri / 2
- Logan Sargeant / Williams / 1
- Nyck De Vries / Alphatauri / 0 OUT