A high downforce track, the best form pointers should come from Hungary, Monaco, and Singapore Grand Prix. A trawl through the results of those races suggests Aston Martin could enjoy a good day.
Lights out is at 1:00pm on Sunday UK time. Live on Sky Sports.
Vettel’s Final Curtain Call Can Yield Points in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Sebastian Vettel finished in the top 10 of these three contests on high downforce tracks (Hungary, Monaco, and Singapore), and he can sign off his Formula 1 career – the three-time world champion retires this weekend – with another points finish. He is 19/20 with Ladbrokes to do so and it looks like a good bet.
Max Wingman Role Makes Perez the Better Bet
But the biggest battle is between Red Bull and Ferrari. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) is level on points with Charles Leclerc in the World Drivers’ Championship standings. Whichever driver finishes ahead of the other (providing one finishes in the points) will take second in the season-long standings. Unibet makes Leclerc 3/4 to win this battle, Perez can be backed at 19/20.
Red Bull team Christian Horner said after last weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix: “It’s very clear going into Abu Dhabi as a team, we’re going to do the best that we can for Checo to finish second in the world championship. It’s a straight fight between the two [Perez and Leclerc], they’re tied on points, and whatever we can do as a team - and Max [Verstappen] is obviously very much part of that team - we will do to help Checo [Perez] achieve that goal.”
With Max Verstappen acting as wingman, any pilot has an outstanding chance of outscoring another driving similar equipment. Of course, Ferrari can put its second driver, Carlos Sainz, into play. But the team has become notorious for making huge tactical errors in 2022 and for that reason alone, Perez is the fancy in this matchup.
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Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Drivers Championship (without Verstappen)
We fancy Sergio Perez to pip Leclerc in the race to take second place
At Evens a £10 bet would return £20
2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
November 20, 2022
1:00 pm GMT
Hamilton Can Continue His Sequence in Much Improved Merc
With Red Bull and Ferrari concentrating on outwitting one another, it’s possible Mercedes could snatch victory. The German team got a huge boost last week when claiming their first race win of the season and its car has improved race-on-race throughout the season.
Hamilton has won a race every season since entering Formula 1 in 2007. Sunday’s race is his last chance to extend that sequence. A five-time winner of this race – and robbed of victory last year thanks to the race director’s unforgivable faux pas – the Brit could probably race around this circuit blindfolded.
His car has performed well at high-downforce tracks this year – bad fortune probably cost him the Dutch Grand Prix – and with Max Verstappen hounding Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton may go one better than he has in his latest three outings where he has finished second on each occasion.
Best Bets for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
- Sebastian Vettel to finish in the points - 19/20 at Ladbrokes
- Sergio Perez (without max Verstappen) Drivers Championship market - Evens at bet365
- Lewis Hamilton to win the race - 11/4 at Betfred
* Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
