Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Tips
Max Verstappen can relax in Abu Dhabi after wrapping up his fourth successive World Drivers’ Championship in Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago, but it is still all to play for in the World Constructors’ Championship as Ferrari look to overturn their deficit to McLaren in the 2024 season finale.
McLaren have seen their lead slashed to 21 points over the last few weeks and, while the ball is still in their court, Ferrari may fancy their chances after a strong showing in Qatar last weekend.
Additionally, Charles Leclerc is still in with an outside chance of claiming second in the World Drivers’ Championship, while Alpine, Haas, and RB are locked in a battle for valuable money-winning positions lower down the standings.
Tip 1 - Max Verstappen to win @ 2/1
After a sixth-place finish in Mexico City extended his winless streak to 10 races, Max Verstappen’s chances of a fourth straight World Drivers’ Championship title looked to be getting away from him but, in typical Verstappen fashion, he proved all his doubters wrong the very next weekend.
He produced a masterclass in the wet in Sao Paulo before wrapping the title up in Las Vegas, but he showed no signs of wanting to coast to the end of the season in Qatar last weekend.
Verstappen was denied pole position by a harsh penalty and used that frustration to good effect in the race, passing George Russell at the start before cruising to victory around the Lusail International Circuit.
He has now won nine Grands Prix this season and two of the last three, and his 18-second win around the Yas Marina Circuit last year made it four consecutive wins in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Tip 2 - Lando Norris to register the fastest lap @ 11/4
A harsh penalty dropped Lando Norris down the order in Qatar, but he still managed to register the fastest lap on his mission back to the points positions and he has regularly put in the best lap of the race this season.
His fastest lap in Qatar was his sixth of the season and five of those have come in the last nine races. To put that into context, Leclerc has the next-most fastest laps this season with three.
Norris looks dialled into his McLaren at times and he can put in another rapid lap around Lusail.
Tip 3 - Charles Leclerc to finish in the top 3 @ 4/6
Ferrari were expected to struggle in Qatar last weekend but managed to take advantage of a rather chaotic race to take second with Leclerc, and the Monegasque driver can give his team the best chance of a World Constructors’ Championship triumph with a strong showing in Abu Dhabi.
Last weekend was Leclerc’s 12th podium finish of the season - level with Norris and only two behind Verstappen - and seven of those top-three successes have come in the last 10 Grands Prix.
The 27-year-old has not finished lower than fifth in this run and, after back-to-back second-place finishes in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he can stand on the podium once again on Sunday.