The 2021 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was more than just a race; it was the ultimate championship showdown, a nail-biting spectacle that etched itself into the annals of motorsport history. As the dust settled on the Yas Marina Circuit, a handful of drivers truly stood out, delivering performances that defined the season’s dramatic conclusion. Here, we delve into the star performers who shone brightest and those who faced significant challenges, providing an in-depth analysis of their crucial roles in this unforgettable F1 finale. Our spotlight falls on Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz Jnr, and Yuki Tsunoda as the standout individuals whose efforts captivated audiences worldwide.
Stars of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Max Verstappen: The Champion’s Drive
Max Verstappen arrived at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with the weight of a championship on his shoulders, tied on points with his formidable rival, Lewis Hamilton. His performance throughout the weekend was a testament to his relentless determination and raw speed. He kicked off his weekend by securing a critical pole position, demonstrating an unparalleled level of commitment. His Q3 lap, masterfully executed with the assistance of a tow from his teammate Sergio Perez, was blistering, putting him in the prime starting spot. However, the qualifying session wasn’t without its challenges; a flat spot on a set of medium tyres during Q2 forced him to start the race on the less durable soft compound, a strategic compromise that could have severely hampered his opening laps.
Despite the initial tyre disadvantage, Verstappen showcased superior raw race pace compared to nearly every other driver on the grid, with the sole exception of his main adversary, Hamilton. He meticulously managed his tyres and maintained pressure throughout the race, never allowing Hamilton to truly relax. The race seemed to be slipping away until a late-race Safety Car intervention completely reshuffled the strategic deck. Given a miraculous opportunity for a single-lap sprint to the finish, Verstappen seized it with the audacity and precision characteristic of a champion. On worn hard tyres versus fresh softs, he executed a perfectly timed and decisive pass at Turn 5, snatching the lead and ultimately the race victory. This breathtaking maneuver secured his maiden Formula 1 World Championship, a monumental achievement that capped one of the most controversial yet enthralling seasons in F1 history, an outcome that, notwithstanding a potential appeal, solidified his place as a global racing icon.
Lewis Hamilton: A Near-Perfect Display
Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, delivered a drive of sheer class and composure that, under normal circumstances, would have undoubtedly secured him a record eighth title. Starting from the front row, he knew the importance of the opening lap. A fantastic start saw him surge into the lead, immediately putting Verstappen on the defensive. While there was a moment of controversy as he cut the Turn 6-7 chicane while defending his position from Verstappen, the stewards deemed no further action was necessary, allowing him to maintain his hard-fought lead.
From that point, Hamilton was in a league of his own. He gradually pulled away, consistently finding several tenths of a second per lap, demonstrating exceptional pace and tyre management. It was a masterclass in controlled aggression, managing his tyres flawlessly on what became a marathon 44-lap stint on scrubbed hard compound tyres. Had the race concluded under the Safety Car, as many expected, Hamilton would have cruised to victory. However, the fateful restart, following the controversial decision to allow only certain lapped cars to un-lap themselves, left him on a significant grip disadvantage. On worn hard tyres against Verstappen’s fresh softs, he simply lacked the traction needed to fend off the Red Bull driver. Despite the stunning reversal of fortune in the final moments, Hamilton displayed remarkable grace in defeat, showcasing the sportsmanship of a true legend. Finishing second, his performance underscored his enduring talent and his ability to perform under the most intense pressure, further cementing his status as one of F1’s all-time greats.
Carlos Sainz Jnr: A Consistent Podium Contender
Carlos Sainz Jnr capped off an incredibly impressive debut season with Ferrari by securing another well-deserved podium finish in Abu Dhabi. His qualifying performance was stellar, placing his Ferrari in fifth position, notably ahead of his highly-rated teammate Charles Leclerc for the fourth time in five races, highlighting his burgeoning confidence and speed within the team. Starting the race on the soft compound tyres, Sainz immediately gained a crucial position on the opening lap, showcasing his excellent race craft. He then executed his strategy perfectly, pitting on lap 19 for new hard tyres, allowing him to manage the long second stint effectively.
Sainz maintained a strong pace throughout the Grand Prix, consistently running ahead of Leclerc from lights to flag, solidifying his position as the lead Ferrari driver on the day. He was comfortably running in fourth place for much of the race, demonstrating excellent consistency and tyre management. His fortunes improved further with the unfortunate retirement of Sergio Perez, which elevated him to third place on the very last lap. Under immense pressure, he skillfully withstood challenges from both Valtteri Bottas and Yuki Tsunoda in the chaotic final moments to secure his fourth podium finish of the 2021 season. This exceptional performance not only added another trophy to his cabinet but also propelled him to fifth in the drivers’ championship standings, an outstanding achievement that underscored his status as one of F1’s most consistent and promising talents.
Yuki Tsunoda: Career-Best Performance
Yuki Tsunoda delivered arguably his finest performance of the 2021 season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, marking a significant milestone in his rookie year. His qualifying effort was superb, demonstrating a notable step forward in pace and confidence. He skillfully navigated his AlphaTauri from Q2 into Q3 on the more challenging medium compound tyres, an impressive feat in itself. More notably, he out-qualified his experienced teammate Pierre Gasly for the very first time this season, securing a highly respectable eighth position on the grid.
The race start saw Tsunoda continue his impressive form, immediately jumping ahead of the outgoing Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas. He then displayed remarkable defensive driving, managing to keep Bottas, in a much faster car, behind him for a substantial period until his pit stop on lap 23. This early race tenacity was a clear indicator of his growing maturity and race craft. Tsunoda was already set to match his previous best result of 2021, holding a strong sixth position, before the pivotal Safety Car period dramatically changed the race’s complexion. This fortunate timing allowed him to pit for a fresh set of soft tyres, giving him a crucial grip advantage for the final dash to the chequered flag. He capitalized on this opportunity brilliantly, executing a stunning overtake around Bottas on the final lap. Coupled with Sergio Pérez’s retirement, this move secured a career-best fourth place finish, an incredible result that left him tantalizingly close – just half a second – from becoming only Japan’s fourth Formula 1 podium finisher. It was a sensational end to his rookie season, hinting at his significant potential.
Strugglers and Missed Opportunities
Kimi Räikkönen: An Unfortunate Farewell
Kimi Räikkönen’s final Formula 1 Grand Prix was unfortunately one to forget, offering a subdued end to an illustrious career spanning two decades. His qualifying session was far from ideal; he struggled to find pace, only managing to finish ahead of the two Haas cars and a significant six-tenths of a second adrift of his Alfa Romeo teammate Antonio Giovinazzi in Q1. This placed him far down the grid, limiting his chances for a strong race performance.
The race itself proved to be equally challenging. Räikkönen was never truly a factor in the midfield battle, struggling to make significant progress from his lowly grid position. His race came to an abrupt and disappointing end when he spun off track due to a terminal brake problem, forcing him to retire early. It was an anticlimactic curtain call for the 2007 world champion, a stark contrast to the thrilling championship decider unfolding around him. Despite his subdued on-track performance, the immense public affection for “The Iceman” was evident. Thanks to an influencer-led campaign, he nonetheless won F1’s ‘Driver of the Day’ poll, a testament to his enduring popularity and the indelible mark he left on the sport, even if his final race itself was forgettable.
And the Rest: Key Performances Across the Grid
Valtteri Bottas: A Bitter-Sweet Mercedes Farewell
Valtteri Bottas’s final race for Mercedes was a mix of disappointment and a crucial contribution to the Constructors’ Championship. His qualifying performance was unexpectedly poor; even accounting for an older engine, finishing sixth, half a second behind Hamilton, was a shock given Mercedes’ usual dominance. His race start compounded the issue, as he dropped two positions and found himself stuck behind the impressive Yuki Tsunoda for a significant portion of the early race. This forced him into a longer-than-ideal first stint on his medium tyres, compromising his strategy.
The chaotic final lap saw Bottas overtaken by both Tsunoda and Gasly, ultimately finishing sixth. While not the individual result he would have hoped for in his farewell, his points contribution was still enough to secure Mercedes their incredible eighth straight Constructors’ Championship, a significant achievement for the team he was leaving. It was a bitter-sweet end to his time at Mercedes, highlighting both his struggles for individual glory and his undeniable value to the team’s collective success.
Sergio Pérez: The “Minister of Defence”
Sergio Pérez played an absolutely pivotal role in the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, earning him the affectionate nickname “Minister of Defence.” His qualifying session saw him sacrifice his first run for Verstappen’s benefit, lining up fourth, eight tenths behind his Red Bull teammate and behind Lando Norris. However, the race was where he truly shone. He immediately passed Norris on the opening lap to move into third behind Hamilton and Verstappen, exactly where Red Bull needed him to be to support their championship aspirations.
His long first stint on hard tyres set the stage for an incredible defensive masterclass against Lewis Hamilton. Pérez held up the Mercedes for crucial laps, allowing Verstappen to close a significant ten-second gap down to just one second. This heroic effort single-handedly saved his teammate’s championship hopes, showcasing unparalleled team loyalty and race craft. Denied a personal reward for his incredible efforts, Pérez was forced to retire from third place with a suspected engine problem, a cruel blow after such a vital drive. A Red Bull one-two finish very well could have been possible, underscoring the magnitude of his contribution.
Lando Norris: Podium Hopes Dashed
Lando Norris delivered a sensational performance in Q3, snatching third on the grid and out-qualifying his teammate Daniel Ricciardo for the 15th time this season. This excellent starting position put him in a prime spot to contend for a strong result. However, his start off the line wasn’t his best, causing him to lose a few positions. He then settled into a solid rhythm behind Carlos Sainz, maintaining fifth place with twenty laps remaining and looking strong for a potential podium bid.
Tragically, his hopes for a top-three finish were undone by a slow puncture, forcing an unscheduled pit stop that dropped him significantly down the order to ninth. Despite this setback, Norris showed remarkable resilience, gaining two places in the closing chaotic laps to eventually finish seventh. It was a race of what-ifs for the young Briton, who once again demonstrated his exceptional qualifying pace but was denied a truly stellar result by circumstances beyond his control.
Daniel Ricciardo: Caught by Controversy
Daniel Ricciardo had a challenging weekend in Abu Dhabi. He qualified only tenth on the grid, a significant half a second behind his teammate Lando Norris in Q3, indicating a struggle to extract the maximum pace from his McLaren. In the race, he initially found it difficult to find a way past Esteban Ocon. His race strategy and track position were then significantly compromised by the timing of both the Virtual Safety Car and, more critically, the final Safety Car interventions.
During the crucial final Safety Car period, Ricciardo gambled by pitting for fresh tyres, giving up two track positions in the hope that he could regain them, and potentially more, on the restart. However, unlike several drivers ahead of him, he was controversially not allowed to un-lap himself before the Safety Car withdrew. This decision effectively resigned him to finishing 12th, a lap behind the leaders, and denied him any chance to fight for points on his new tyres. It was a frustrating end to a season that had seen its share of ups and downs for the Australian, overshadowed by the controversial restart decision.
Lance Stroll: Lacking Race Pace
Lance Stroll delivered a stronger qualifying performance than usual, out-qualifying Sebastian Vettel for the first time since the United States Grand Prix and for the eighth time this season. This put him in a decent starting position. However, his Aston Martin struggled significantly with race pace, leaving him outside the points for much of the 58 laps. The car simply lacked the raw speed to contend with the midfield competitors.
The late Safety Car offered a glimmer of hope, but Stroll was ultimately frustrated. Despite pitting for new soft tyres, he was not waved around to un-lap himself before the Safety Car withdrawal, meaning he had no chance to scrap for points. He finished a disappointing 13th, unable to capitalize on the strategic gamble due to the race director’s controversial decisions regarding lapped cars.
Sebastian Vettel: A Point Missed, an Award Gained
Sebastian Vettel had an incident-filled qualifying session, which unfortunately left him down in 15th on the grid. This immediately put him on the back foot for the race. He lost too much time early on, getting stuck in the wake of Antonio Giovinazzi, which severely hurt his chances of advancing into the points-paying positions. Despite his best efforts, the Aston Martin lacked the necessary pace to make significant inroads.
In the chaotic final laps, Vettel narrowly missed out on a point, finishing eleventh after being released from the Safety Car queue. While this was a frustrating outcome, he did scoop F1’s inaugural ‘Overtake Award’, a novel form of silverware that meant Aston Martin didn’t leave Abu Dhabi entirely empty-handed. It was a small consolation in a challenging race for the four-time world champion.
Esteban Ocon: Consistent Performance
Esteban Ocon delivered another strong and consistent performance, making it into Q3 for the third time in a row. He also achieved an impressive 11-11 draw with his highly experienced teammate Fernando Alonso in their head-to-head qualifying results for the season, a testament to his growing speed and consistency against a two-time world champion. During qualifying, however, he did pick up a reprimand for impeding Sebastian Vettel.
In the race, Ocon executed his strategy well, spending the majority of the Grand Prix running ahead of Daniel Ricciardo and consistently right behind his teammate Alonso on track. He managed to navigate the late-race chaos effectively, ultimately finishing his 2021 campaign with a solid ninth place, adding valuable points to Alpine’s tally and underscoring his reliable presence in the midfield.
Fernando Alonso: A Strategic Divergence
Fernando Alonso expressed his frustration with other drivers impeding during qualifying, which ultimately saw him fail to make the cut for Q3, a rare occurrence for the Spanish veteran. This put him on the back foot from the start. In the race, Alonso chose to diverge from many of his rivals on strategy, opting for an incredibly long first stint where he ran 36 laps on scrubbed hard tyres before finally switching to fresh mediums. This unconventional approach highlighted his strategic acumen and willingness to take risks.
Despite the challenges, Alonso managed his tyres masterfully and navigated the race effectively, ultimately finishing a respectable eighth place. He crossed the line just ahead of his teammate Esteban Ocon and narrowly behind Lando Norris, showcasing his ability to extract performance even when starting from a compromised position and adopting a unique strategy. It was a typical gritty performance from the two-time world champion.
Charles Leclerc: Gambles and Fortune
Charles Leclerc had a solid qualifying session, securing seventh place in what was a very close midfield battle. This placed his Ferrari in a good position for points. However, his race strategy took a turn during the Virtual Safety Car on lap 35, where he gambled by pitting for medium tyres. This decision unfortunately led to a loss of track position, and he never truly gained significant time back to offset that loss. The gamble did not pay off as intended, leaving him further down the order than he might have been.
Despite the strategic misstep, Leclerc was ultimately fortunate to be promoted to a tenth-place finish, securing the final point. This promotion was largely due to the late-race retirement of Sergio Pérez and the chaotic reshuffle under the Safety Car. It was a race where fortune smiled on him late on, salvaging a point that had seemed unlikely for much of the Grand Prix.
Pierre Gasly: Ending on a High Note
Pierre Gasly had an uncharacteristically off-form qualifying session, missing out on Q3 for only the fourth time in the 2021 season, which placed him 12th on the grid. Starting on the hard tyres, he opted for an alternate strategy, hoping to make gains later in the race. This plan proved effective, as he managed to climb up to an impressive fifth place by the end of his lengthy first stint, showcasing excellent tyre management and consistent pace.
In the dramatic final moments, Gasly skillfully followed his teammate Yuki Tsunoda through to overtake Valtteri Bottas, securing a strong fifth-place finish. This impressive recovery drive allowed him to sign off his best Formula 1 season to date on a high note, underlining his maturity and ability to deliver strong results even when starting from a compromised position. It was a fitting end to a season where he consistently punched above his car’s weight.
Antonio Giovinazzi: A Cruel End to His F1 Stint
Antonio Giovinazzi delivered one more strong qualifying effort in his final Formula 1 race, reaching Q2 and notably out-ranking his experienced teammate Kimi Räikkönen for the 15th time in 2021. This solid performance indicated his continued improvement and speed. In the race, he made a good start, moving ahead of Lance Stroll on the first lap and then successfully keeping the Aston Martins at bay for a period, demonstrating his ability to battle in the midfield.
However, his last Formula 1 race – at least for now – ended in cruel disappointment. While running in 13th position, a mechanical failure forced him to retire, bringing an unfortunate end to his tenure in the sport. It was a bitter pill to swallow, as he showed glimpses of potential throughout the weekend, only to be denied a chance to finish his final Grand Prix due to circumstances beyond his control.
Mick Schumacher: A Spirited Fight
Mick Schumacher completed a clean sweep in his head-to-head qualifying battles, comfortably qualifying three quarters of a second ahead of his Haas teammate Nikita Mazepin. This consistent superiority over his teammate was a recurring theme of his rookie season. In the race, Schumacher immediately engaged in a spirited scrap with the Williams duo on the opening lap, holding George Russell and Nicholas Latifi honest with determined driving until his early first pit stop.
He continued to run ahead of Latifi for much of the race until the Williams driver’s unfortunate crash. Despite driving the sluggish Haas VF21, arguably the slowest car on the grid, Schumacher managed to bring it home to the chequered flag in 14th position. It was a commendable effort from the young German, showcasing his resilience and determination to maximize the performance of a difficult car throughout his rookie campaign.
Nikita Mazepin: An Unfortunate Absence
Nikita Mazepin’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend ended before it truly began. He was out-qualified by his Haas teammate Mick Schumacher on Saturday, as he had been in every single race this year where both drivers set competitive times. This highlighted his ongoing struggle to match Schumacher’s pace throughout the season. However, the more significant event was his unfortunate withdrawal from the race itself.
Hours before the Grand Prix was set to begin, Mazepin tested positive for Covid-19, forcing him to miss the final race of the year. It was a disappointing and abrupt end to his rookie Formula 1 season, leaving him unable to participate in the dramatic championship decider and conclude his year on track. His absence was a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by the sport in the context of the global pandemic.
George Russell: A Disappointing Farewell
George Russell’s final start for Williams before his highly anticipated move to Mercedes was unfortunately compromised. A strategically poor decision in Q1 left him behind the cut line for just the third time this season, a rare misstep for the qualifying specialist. This meant he started further down the grid than his usual impressive performances.
His race began poorly, dropping him to last on the opening lap. Compounding his challenges, he suffered with cooling problems for much of his abbreviated race, which severely hampered his ability to climb back through the field. Russell’s final appearance for Williams ended prematurely with a gearbox failure, forcing his retirement. Despite the disappointing end, he departed the team having played a crucial role in their upward trajectory from where he joined them in 2019, leaving a lasting positive impact.
Nicholas Latifi: The Pivotal Accident
Nicholas Latifi secured his second head-to-head qualifying result over his highly-rated teammate George Russell, and impressively, he only missed Q2 by a mere tenth of a second, showcasing a strong Saturday performance. In the race, he initially ran ahead of Russell until his teammate’s retirement, then subsequently fell behind Mick Schumacher.
However, Latifi’s race became the most pivotal, if unfortunate, moment of the entire championship. A clash with Mick Schumacher forced him wide and precipitated his accident on lap 51, bringing out the Safety Car. This incident fundamentally reshaped the final laps of the championship, directly leading to the controversial restart decisions that ultimately handed Max Verstappen the title. It was an accidental but undeniable role in Formula 1 history for the Canadian driver, an event he undoubtedly wished had never happened.
Over to you
The 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will forever be remembered for its unparalleled drama, high stakes, and unforgettable moments. Every driver on the grid played a part in this epic conclusion, but some performances truly stood out, for better or for worse. Now, we invite you to reflect on the weekend’s events and share your perspective.
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