The ‘rookies’ and the battle for fourth place are focused on the battle at the Abu Dhabi GP

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The debut of young drivers in the first free practice sessions, the battle for fourth place in the drivers’ world championship in which Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) have sunk and the battles to occupy the second to fifth positions in the constructors’ championship will mark the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the last season of Formula One completely dominated by Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull).

The final grand prize of this course will come without the fuss that 2021 has, for example, when the drivers’ championship was decided on the last lap in favor of Verstappenovertaken by British Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), but the details that remain to be decided will lead many to continue adding points so that their respective teams add a ‘small’ financial pinch for 2024.

Furthermore, facing this final race it remains to be seen if anyone is capable of defeating ‘Mad Max’whose drive to continue stalking records in the form of fastest laps, pole positions and victories seems endless, with the only mole being his fifth position in Singapore.

Fight for fourth place in the drivers’ World Championship

It was precisely on the Asian circuit that Sainz achieved his first victory in Formula 1 after 16 podiums. in its nine seasons. After finishing third in the Italian GP, ​​the Madrid native confirmed Ferrari’s good performance and consolidated his options to fight for fourth place with his friend Alonso.

The two-time world champion has been doing less with his carespecially the improvements of Aston Martin were not accompanied, which caused Alonso to see on the track how Mercedes, Ferrari or even McLaren overtook Lawrence Stroll’s team.

However, five podiums in the first six races served to climb to the top of the classification and the Asturian’s magic behind the wheel allowed him to reach the last race of the year with a chance to be fourth, as he was in that position tied on 200 points with Sainz.

But this fight for the fourth position in the drivers’ world championship is not only between the two Spaniards: the British Lando Norris (McLaren) is also behind, lurking, with 195 points, and the Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), with 188 points after his second place in the last Las Vegas GP.

Constructors’ World Cup, a good economic pinch

Something similar happens in the constructors’ championship. Having decided the first position for months, Mercedes and Ferrari will fight in Abu Dhabi for second place, a position that the German team now has – with 392 points – with the Italian team, with 388, though that could all change in the final race. .

Furthermore, in the second half of the championship the team consisting of Leclerc and Sainz improved its performance compared to the first part of the championship and gradually cut the points from the team of Hamilton and the British George Russell.

The same thing happens in the fight for the fourth and fifth positions: the McLarens of Norris and the Australian Óscar Piastri accumulate 284 points for the excellent second part of the championship for the team and, especially, for the British, while the Aston Martin, with the Asturian and the Canadian Lance Stroll, a total of 273.

‘Newbies’ in free training

But Abu Dhabi will also be an opportunity for many young drivers to test the cars in the first free practice sessions. Verstappen’s, for example, will be occupied by the British Jack Dennis, Formula E champion, while the Mexican Pato O’Ward will ride in a McLaren car and the British Zak O’Sullivan, in a Williams.

Drivers who have already done it in Mexico will also be in the cars: French-Algerian Isack Hadjar will be in a Red Bull; the Danish Frederick Vesti, in a Mercedes; the Australian Jack Doohan, for his part, with Alpine; Frenchman Theo Pourchaire will return to Alfa Romeo, and British Oliver Bearman will be at Haas.

Brazilian Felipe Drugovic, who already drove Aston Martin at Monza, and Russian Robert Shwartzmann (Ferrari), reserve driver for the Italian team, will also do the same.

So, this grand prix of testing for young drivers, although there are still some positions to be decided, is the last until the first weekend of March, where there seem to be some surprises, which is the only doubt is if the good work of the American Logan Sargeant (Williams) will serve to renew the only free seat on the grid next year.

Source: La Verdad

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