Ein race is still to be driven in this Formula 1 season. Everything seems decided. And yet, on Friday, the drivers raced to the limit during practice across the Abu Dhabi race track, overshooting the apex of the curves here and there. Braked too fast, too late, misjudged, at least driven by ambition.
If, after winning the Drivers’ World Championship for Max Verstappen and in the Constructors’ Championship for his Red Bull team, nothing mattered, then the men before the finale on Sunday (2 p.m. CET, in the FAZ live ticker for Formula 1 and Sky) take it easy. But what is still at stake?
World champions are world champions because they want to win everything. “There’s more to come,” Max Verstappen declared after his 14th win this season, a new record. The 15th if possible on Sunday. The shape seems correct.
Perez gegen Leclerc
In the early evening, the Dutchman set the best time in the glaring floodlights during the second “free” practice session. In the speed test, he drove around 0.7 seconds faster than his team-mate Sergio Perez (5th). It wasn’t a show of force against the Mexican. But a first indication of how difficult it could be to stabilize the truce in the racing team before the winter break.
Perez wants to finish second in the overall standings, past Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari, who is tied (290), who is ahead because he has won one more Grand Prix this year (3) than the Mexican. Behind Perez is the Red Bull team leadership and their vision of flawless dominance. No place should be occupied between Verstappen and Perez. Which would make the second helmsman look better from the outside, at least as by far the second best in the world champion team. Leclerc in front of him in the pecking order would raise questions: How can the Monegasse have sped past in the ultimately slower Ferrari?
Even before the final act, Red Bull ends up with a topic that the racing team wants to keep as small as possible with a language rule: why did Verstappen brusquely reject the wish of the strategy center at the last race in Brazil to give Perez sixth place and thus give him points?
Perez Sauer
The scandal from last Sunday, Perez no longer understood the world and complained about the lack of “repayment” of some servant services for the benefit of Verstappen, Red Bull initially held in check with a discussion. Because everyone involved (so far) has remained staunchly silent about the rumor that Perez deliberately staged an accident during qualifying practice in Monaco in the last few minutes in order to keep a better starting position than his team-mate.
Both pilots spoke extensively on Thursday of their anger at this “speculation”, including unacceptable attacks on social media. But no one in the Red Bull circle who knows is willing to clear up the case and eliminate the rumor. Because Verstappen’s refusal was accepted by the team, the case hovers like a dark cloud over Red Bull. It will darken if Perez doesn’t get past Leclerc.
Until the summer, Ferrari’s chief pilot circled like a challenger to Verstappen before he was left behind. Second is not what he has in mind. But Ferrari is under pressure. At least team boss Mattia Binotto. And this is completely independent of the report denied by the Scuderia that the Italian will be replaced by his colleague at Alfa Romeo, Frederic Vasseur.
Ferrari could lose second place in the constructors’ championship if Mercedes continues where the dethroned world champion left off in Brazil: with a double win, George Russell as winner ahead of Lewis Hamilton. A gap of 19 points seems a lot for a race. It’s not impossible.
On Friday, Russell was second behind Verstappen, a tenth of a second faster than Leclerc (3rd), Hamilton (4th) left Carlos Sainz in the second Ferrari (6th) behind.
“Red Bull is probably faster,” said Russell, “but I hope we can fight for third place on the grid. Then we’ll see what’s going on in the race.” In this case, it’s also about prestige. But above all, a jump to second place paid off.
The order in the Constructors’ Championship determines the share of the prize money. The fight for second place is about at least thirteen million euros. Depending on the income of Formula 1, it can also be more.
The money position is even more important in the midfield of Formula 1. After Friday’s impression of performance, which should be taken with a pinch of salt, Alpine will no longer lose its lead (19 points) over McLaren.
Esteban Ocon (7th) and Fernando Alonso (8th) circled ahead of Daniel Ricciardo (9th), albeit just a shade faster. McLaren’s spearhead, Lando Norris (12th), did not get going as usual, but is capable of a jump. It will be more exciting between Alfa Romeo and Aston Martin. Is Sebastian Vettel saying goodbye to Formula 1 with a valuable gift to his team?
Sebastian Vettel stops
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Pictures of an extraordinary career
In twelfth place, the four-time world champion drove only slightly slower than Valtteri Bottas in the fastest Alfa (10th). The form of the 35-year-old Hessian in recent weeks speaks for more hunting scenes and overtaking attempts on all routes to the finish line: Aston Martin is only five points behind Alfa in seventh place in the constructors’ table.
It will also depend on Mick Schumacher to keep the clammy American racing team in eighth place. Of all things. Retired at Haas on Wednesday, another perhaps important factor on Sunday: Alpha Tauri is lurking. Only three points are missing for the overtaking manoeuvre. That seems little, but it is a lot. The little ones rarely score.
