2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Championship standings

Alonso leads the Drivers’ Championship with 246 points. Webber is second on 238 and Vettel third on 231. Hamilton is fourth on 222 points, 24 behind Alonso with a maximum of 25 available in the final race. Button has been mathematically eliminated from title contention, unable to overcome a 47-point deficit. This is the first occasion that four drivers have entered the season finale still in contention for the championship.

Red Bull have already clinched their maiden Constructors’ Championship with 469 points, 48 clear of McLaren, with a maximum of 43 remaining.

Previous race

Vettel won in Brazil. Webber was second. Alonso was third — a result that, combined with Webber and Vettel’s strong finishes, wiped out Alonso’s championship lead entering this final round. Hamilton recovered to fourth. Button was fifth, but his points haul was insufficient to stay in mathematical contention.

Championship permutations

All four championship contenders can still win the title at Yas Marina. Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz and team principal Christian Horner have both stated that no team orders will be used to favour either of their drivers, in contrast to Ferrari’s approach at the German Grand Prix. Vettel himself said he would help Webber if required, having trailed his teammate by seven points entering the weekend.

If Vettel wins the title he would be the youngest World Drivers’ Champion in the 61-year history of the championship. If Alonso wins it would make him the youngest three-time champion at 29 years and 108 days. If Hamilton wins it would be the third consecutive title for a British driver following his own 2008 championship and Button’s 2009 title.

Milestones

This is the final race for Bridgestone as Formula One’s sole tyre supplier, ending a four-season exclusive contract since Michelin withdrew after 2006. Pirelli will take over the tyre contract for 2011, returning to Formula One for the first time since 1991. Vettel’s tenth pole position of the season would make him only the seventh driver to record ten poles in a single season, and equal McLaren’s total from 1988.

Practice

Three sessions were held — two on Friday and one on Saturday afternoon. The first session began on a damp but drying track after an unexpected pre-session downpour. Vettel was quickest at 1:42.760, over six-tenths ahead of Hamilton. In the second session, Hamilton went fastest at 1:40.888, a quarter of a second ahead of Vettel. Alonso was third, Webber fourth. Schumacher was only eleventh.

Saturday’s session was run on a much hotter track, reaching 43 °C compared to around 30 °C on Friday. Vettel was again fastest at 1:40.696, narrowly ahead of Webber. Hamilton, Alonso, Button, and Petrov rounded out the top six.