As the cars race into the sunset this weekend at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the sun will also set on the 2022 Formula 1 season, and both Red Bull and Honda couldn’t have asked for a better outcome having won both driver and constructor championships. Built on a man-made island and with a hotel straddling the track, Yas Marina is said to be the costliest circuit to construct on the Formula 1 calendar. Last year’s modifications to the circuit (which included the chicane that formed turns 5-6 becoming a straight, a long banked turn that was created to replace turns 11-14, and turns 17-20 having been re-profiled to allow more speed) certainly achieved the desired result of creating better racing, though it’s doubtful we’ll see anything quite as thrilling as the 2021 race.
Red Bull will enter the weekend with a massive sense of accomplishment and relief as they have achieved any team’s or driver’s dream of winning both driver and constructor titles. Not wanting to rest on their laurels, there are two pieces of unfinished business that the team will want to achieve. First, Max Vertstappen will not be satisfied to merely beat Schumacher and Vettel’s season win record, he’ll be aiming to obliterate it with win number 15. Second, Sergio Perez enters the weekend tied for second in the driver’s championship with Charles Leclerc and will be eager to lock that position down this weekend. Look for Max to be on the podium and a candidate for the win with a hungry Perez right there with him. On the AlphaTauri side of the garage points will be a difficult ask the way the last several races have gone for the sister team.
Elsewhere on the grid, look for this to be a general ranking of team performance coming into the race weekend:
1. Red Bull
2. Mercedes ↑
3. Ferrari ↓
4. Alpine
5. McLaren
6. Aston Martin
7. Alfa Romeo
8. Haas ↑
9. AlphaTauri ↓
10. Williams
Abu Dhabi marks the end of our 2022 Formula 1 Grand Prix coverage. On behalf of TOV/ TOV Motorsports I would like to sincerely express thanks and gratitude to everyone who reads these posts and participates in the discussions; 2022 has been another great year of F1 conversation. We look forward to 2023 as the Honda name formally returns to the Red Bull cars. Again, thank you all.
US TV SCHEDULE
Friday, November 18
Practice 1 – 4.55AM – ESPN2
Practice 2 – 7.55AM – ESPN3
F1 Show – 9.15AM – ESPN3
Saturday, November 12
Practice 3 – 5.25AM – ESPN2
Qualifying – 8.55AM – ESPN3
Ted’s Qualifying Notebook – 10.45AM – ESPN3
Sunday, November 13
Grand Prix Sunday – 6.30AM – ESPN2
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – 7.55AM – ESPN2
Checkered Flag – 10AM – ESPN3
Ted’s Race Notebook – 11AM – ESPN3
Race (re-air) – 9PM –
ESPNEWS
CIRCUIT INFORMATION
Lap data
Lap length: 5.281km (3.451 miles)
Race laps: 58
Race distance: 306.183km (190.253 miles)
Pole position: Right-hand side of the track
Lap record*: 1:26.103, Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 2021
Fastest lap: 1:22.109, Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 2021
Maximum speed: 320kph (198.839 mph)
DRS
zone/s (race): Two straights
Distance from grid to turn one: 300m
Car performance
Full throttle: 59%
Longest flat-out section: 1233m
Downforce level: High
Gear changes per lap: 68
Fuel use per lap: 1.8kg
Time penalty per lap of fuel: 0.054s
Strategy
Quickest complete pit stop in 2013: 21.175s by Red Bull
2022 tyres: Hard (C3), Medium (C4), Soft (C5) (2021: Hard (C3), Medium (C4), Soft (C5))
2021 RESULTS
Race Info.
Pole: Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 1:22.109
Race laps: 58
Fast race lap: Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 1:26.103
Podium
1. Max Verstappen – Red Bull
2. Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes
3. Carlos Sainz Jr. – Ferrari
CURRENT STANDINGS
TRACK MAP AND VIDEO
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