Today, at the Yas Marina Circuit, the Formula 1 World Championship teams launch the first and second official free trials for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which begins the day after tomorrow and represents the final round of the season, in a race that witnesses intense competition between the two McLaren teams. And “Ferrari” clinched the last title in the World Constructors’ Championship, after the World Drivers’ Championship title was decided early in favor of a team driver. “Red Bull”, Dutchman Max Verstappen.
The McLaren team enters the Abu Dhabi race at the top of the World Manufacturers’ Championship with 640 points, 21 points ahead of its pursuer, the Ferrari team, which is clinging to its hopes in the final race. This is not on the level of breaking the historical knot of the red team’s cars in Yas Marina by achieving the first victory on the race. This circuit, but rather in the ability of the team’s drivers, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, to finish the main race in first and second place, which gives the one who obtains one of them a total of points. It amounts to 38 points, which is enough to crown “Ferrari” the title, which depends on the failure of the two “McLaren” drivers, the British Lando Norris and the Australian Oscar Piasre, together to achieve a result better than fifth and sixth, who are awarded 18 points, and thus causing the team to end its season with a total of 658 points, and losing the championship title. Manufacturers for Ferrari.
Today’s two trials – the first, which begins at 1:30 p.m., and the second, which takes place at 5:00 p.m., the time of the Sunday race itself – carry great importance for both teams, in finding the ideal control standards for the qualifying test challenge, tomorrow, in addition to testing the race control standards, and thus enhancing their chances in the race. The ability to compete to win the manufacturers’ championship.
Ferrari’s task seems difficult in being able to break the historical knot of the Yas Marina Circuit, in light of the presence of strong competitors, not only in terms of the McLaren drivers, but also with the legitimate aspirations of world champion Max Verstappen to snatch his fifth consecutive victory at the circuit. “Yas Marina”, in addition to the aspirations of the world heptathlon champion and driver of the “Mercedes” team, the British Lewis Hamilton, to enhance his record as the driver with the most wins on this track with a score of Five victories, achieved between 2011 and 2019.
It is noteworthy that the McLaren team had previously won at the Yas Marina Circuit in the 2011 edition with Briton Hamilton, while the Ferrari team had historically been content in the Abu Dhabi race by winning second place on five occasions, two of them in the last two editions with driver Charles Leclerc, and twice. In the 2011 and 2012 editions with Spaniard Fernando Olons, and once in 2018 with German Sebastian Vettel.
Decisive point for “fastest lap”
Excitement is rising in the race the day after tomorrow as the McLaren and Ferrari teams attempt to take advantage of the additional point awarded to the driver who manages to record the fastest lap in the race, which could be the deciding factor in deciding the constructors’ title, especially if the race ends with first and second places for the Ferrari drivers, and the Ferrari drivers finish. McLaren are in fourth and fifth places, making both teams tied with a total of 662 points, and thus the final say goes to the deciding point. For the driver who can record the fastest lap.
Vasseur: We will fight until the last lap
Ferrari team manager Frederic Vasseur. From the source
Ferrari team director, Frederic Vasseur, confirmed that the team will fight until the last lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with the ambition of competing with McLaren to win the World Constructors’ Championship title, in light of the open competition that brings the two teams together in the final round, with the ambition of winning the title for the first time in years. Long, the last of which was for Ferrari in the 2007 season, and for McLaren in the 2008 season, and Vasseur said in press statements that “the result of the Qatar Grand Prix The big one, last week, was good for the team, and the goal now is to complete the mission in Abu Dhabi.” He explained: “We are separated by 21 points from the leading (McLaren) team, and everything is possible and is still possible, and we have great optimism, as things on paper look a little better for the team.” For us, but given the return of Max Verstappen, and the strength shown by the Mercedes team, it becomes difficult to predict what might happen.” He concluded: “We have a lot ahead of us in Abu Dhabi, and we must press until the last lap of the race.” The race.”
The Leclerc brothers are a unique phenomenon in today’s experiences
Two brothers, Charles and Arthur Leclerc. From the source
The Ferrari team announced that its development driver, Arthur Leclerc, will take over driving duties in the first free trials today, alongside his older brother Charles, forming a unique duo in the history of the Formula 1 World Championship as the first two brothers to participate in free trials in a grand prix race.
Arthur’s participation comes as part of the championship’s requirements, with the presence of a young driver in two free practice sessions throughout the season’s rounds, so Ferrari chose to give the car of its Spanish driver, Carlos Sainz, to the young driver, Arthur, to participate in the first free trials for the Etihad Airways Grand Prix, and Arthur, who hails from… Monaco, following in the footsteps of his older brother Charles, after he graduated from the Ferrari Academy, after two successful seasons in the Formula 3 and Formula 2 racing series, before he was given confidence. This season to fill the duties of development driver on the simulator at the headquarters of the Ferrari team in Maranello, Italy.
Arthur (24 years old) also took part in two tests with Ferrari this season, the first in January at the Barcelona circuit as part of Pirelli tire tests, and the second as part of tests affiliated with the International Automobile Federation (FIA) at the Italian “Fiorano” circuit last May.
. .
