The Formula One calendar can now boast a number of ‘glamour’ events such as Monaco and Singapore, with Abu Dhabi completing the trio of star-studded grands prix. As the only day/night race on the calendar, it is a unique event much like Singapore but with a permanent circuit based in one of the most exotic locations in the Gulf region instead of the city streets in south-east Asia. The championships may be wrapped up, but there is still plenty to play for as darkness descends on the 2013 Formula One season.
Tony DiZinno (@tonydizinno)
Race winner: Sebastian Vettel. Chance to tie Michael Schumacher’s run of seven wins in a row in a quest for a second-half sweep is too good to pass up.
Surprising finish: Nico Hulkenberg. After late-race DNF in India, the “Hulk” resumes his punching-above-the-car’s-weight routine with a top-six in Abu Dhabi.
Most to prove: Kimi Raikkonen. This may seem an odd choice here but Kimi, who at this race last year famously quipped “he knew what he was doing,” has seemed almost disinterested in the last three races. With Romain Grosjean’s incredible run of form of late coinciding, ascending to Lotus’ favored driver as Kimi leaves at year’s end, time for the “Iceman” to deliver a performance on par with his win here last year.
Christopher Estrada (@estradawriting)
Race winner: Kimi Raikkonen. Right. Time to pick somebody different. Why not go with the defending champion of this race? He and Lotus are still part of the fight for second in both driver’s and constructor’s titles, so expect them to give it all they have in these final events of the season.
Surprising finish: Jenson Button. Teammate Sergio Perez’s fifth-place showing in India seems to show that McLaren is on the rise as 2013 comes to a conclusion. If Button can avoid problems like he had early on last weekend, he could have himself a nice result on Yas Marina.
Most to prove: Fernando Alonso. He and Ferrari are in the middle of that aforementioned battle for P2 in the constructors’ race (and Raikkonen is closing in on him for P2 on the driver’s table as well). The team has not had a great pace in qualifying, and with Abu Dhabi not being the best place for overtaking, this weekend could be a challenge.
Luke Smith (@LukeSmithF1)
Race winner: Nico Rosberg. Seb has to retire at some point, surely? Rosberg proved himself to be best of the rest in India, so he could carry that form over to Abu Dhabi this weekend.
Surprising finish: Nico Hulkenberg. I’m going to be brave and back the Hulk for a top five finish. The Sauber’s traction off slow corners and straight line speed could make him a force to be reckoned with in Abu Dhabi.
Most to prove: Pastor Maldonado. His millions may be his main selling point as he bids for a seat at Lotus in 2014, but he also needs to prove that he can deliver on track to avoid an embarrassment.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
Race winner: Sebastian Vettel. Red Bull’s domination looks impregnable at the moment, and in his last two visits to Abu Dhabi he’s surely used up all the bad luck he’s owed at the track. This could be his seventh win in a row: we’re watching history being made.
Surprising finish: Lewis Hamilton. He’s had a quiet few races and was shaded by Nico Rosberg in India. But Yas Marina is his kind of track – he’s often electrifying through the last sector. If anyone’s going to keep Vettel from pole, it has to be Hamilton.
Most to prove: Giedo van der Garde. Reaching lap two with his car intact would be a marked improvement from his previous two outings.
