2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Previous race

Pérez won the Sakhir Grand Prix for his first Formula One victory — setting the record for the most race starts before a first win, at 190, surpassing Mark Webber’s previous record of 130 set at the 2009 German Grand Prix. Ocon finished second for his first podium; Stroll was third. Russell, deputising for the absent Hamilton at Mercedes, took the lead from pole-sitter Bottas and led for 59 laps before a tyre mix-up at his pit stop dropped him to the back, followed by a late puncture, ultimately finishing ninth. Leclerc and Verstappen collided with Pérez on lap 1, leaving all three at the back of the field before Pérez recovered.

Between-race developments

Hamilton has tested negative for COVID-19 and returns to Mercedes for the season finale. Russell returns to Williams.

Entrants

Grosjean remains absent. Fittipaldi races again for Haas. Mick Schumacher drives for Haas in the first practice session, replacing Kevin Magnussen. Robert Kubica drives for Alfa Romeo Racing in FP1, replacing Antonio Giovinazzi.

Penalties

Charles Leclerc carries a three-place grid penalty for causing a collision with Pérez at the Sakhir Grand Prix. Pérez and Kevin Magnussen must start from the back of the grid after exceeding their allocations of power unit elements.

Milestones

This is Haas’s 100th Grand Prix and Renault’s 400th. It is the final race for Daniil Kvyat at AlphaTauri, for Vettel at Ferrari after six years, and for Pérez at Racing Point after two years at the team and five at their predecessor Force India. It is also the last race under the Racing Point and Renault constructor names, as both teams rebrand for 2021.

Tyre choices

Pirelli provides the C3, C4, and C5 compounds — the softest selection available. Pirelli tests the 2021 tyre compounds in the second practice session.

Practice

Verstappen was fastest in the first practice session ahead of Bottas and Ocon. The second session was red-flagged for 10 minutes after Räikkönen’s Alfa Romeo caught fire; Bottas ended the session fastest ahead of Hamilton and Verstappen. Verstappen set the fastest time in the third and final practice session, followed by Albon and Ricciardo.