16 years of title longing: Ferrari's big moment

An era in Formula 1 will come to an end in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday. After eleven years with Mercedes, for whom he won six of his seven world championship titles, Lewis Hamilton will be driving his last race for the Silver Arrows. A change is also coming in the constructors' championship.

05 December 2024

From: apa/dl

For the first time since Brawn GP 2009, the title does not go to Red Bull Racing or Mercedes. McLaren and Ferrari are fighting for first place. Ferrari last won the constructors' championship in 2008 - 16 years ago. The last time Kimi Räikkönen won the drivers' title was in 2007.

McLaren with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri goes into the United Arab Emirates Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi with a 21-point lead. A maximum of 44 points are still up for grabs. "We will fight until the last corner of the last lap," announced Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur for his drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.

Team boss Fred Vasseur (left) wants to fight for the title with Ferrari until the last corner. © ANSA / ANNA SZILAGYI

Sainz, who will drive for Williams next year, wants to say goodbye to Ferrari with one last success, even if the Scuderia's chances are not particularly good. "21 points mean that Ferrari needs a perfect weekend and McLaren a bad one," explained the Spaniard. "We will try everything, we can still do it. We have nothing to lose," said the Spaniard combatively.

There is also a duel between McLaren and Ferrari for the vice world championship title behind champion Max Verstappen. Norris is still eight points ahead of Leclerc, who last weekend finished second in Qatar and has a realistic chance of finishing second.

Hamilton's farewell

The weekend will definitely be an emotional one for Mercedes. The 105-time GP winner Hamilton is moving to Ferrari and will be given a fitting farewell. "This weekend is all about celebrating. A celebration for everything we have achieved together," said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. "We will pay tribute to this unprecedented history in Abu Dhabi and the following week when we visit Kuala Lumpur, Stuttgart, then finally Brixworth and Brackley," added the Viennese, referring to the headquarters of sponsor Petronas and Mercedes as well as the two factories in England.

Lewis Hamilton is competing in his last Grand Prix as a Mercedes driver. © APA/afp / GIUSEPPE CACACE

There will also be celebrations at Red Bull Racing after Verstappen secured his fourth world championship title in a row. The Dutchman has triumphed at the Yas Marina Circuit for the past four years and can close the gap to five-time winner Hamilton with another win. For Verstappen it would be the tenth victory of the season, for Red Bull Racing the eighth in Abu Dhabi, something the Austrian-British racing team has never managed on any track.

At the season finale, Formula 1 will not only see many farewells, but also a debut. The 21-year-old Australian Jack Doohan, who will be a regular driver for Alpine next year, is already replacing Esteban Ocon in the French team and will thus make his debut in the premier class of motorsport early.

Schlagwörter: Motorsport Formula 1 Ferrari Charles Leclerc