Abu Dhabi preview: What’s still to be decided in F1’s 2024 finale?

Formula 1 fans have been treated to one of the most unpredictable seasons in recent memory, and there’s still one final twist in the tale of 2024 left to unfold.

Four different teams and seven different drivers have taken to the top step in the last 23 races; that’s made it almost impossible to predict who will come out ahead going into each weekend, so naturally the final race winner of the year is just as much of an unknown.

With a number of pivotal positions in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships still to be decided, and several drivers hungry to prove themselves before the winter break, there are plenty of loose ends to tie up at the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

Here are the key storylines ahead of the final race of the season…

Constructors title up for grabs

McLaren and Ferrari head into the final race weekend of 2024 separated by just 21 points. Team papaya’s job is considerably easier with almost a race win in their back pocket, but Norris’ Qatar penalty showed nothing is certain this year.

The Scuderia has been particularly strong in the latter stages of the season too, so there’s every possibility they could bridge that gap. With Ferrari’s first constructors’ title since 2008 and McLaren’s first since 1998 on the line, neither team will be leaving anything on the table at the Yas Marina Circuit.

READ MORE: A classic F1 constructors’ battle revived in 2024

Who will be second in the drivers’ standings?

Like their teams in the constructors’ championship, Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc will be vying for honours in Abu Dhabi. There’s just eight points separating the pair in favour of the Brit, but that could easily change if he were to finish third and Charles took the win.

For Lando, second would be his highest finish in the drivers’ standings, while Charles would match his best end-of-year position from 2022.

Hamilton’s Mercedes swansong

Ahead of his 2025 switch to Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton will want to go out on a high after 12 seasons of unprecedented success with Mercedes, and with the Brackley-based team’s anomalous 2024 form, there’s every possibility he could.

Lewis currently sits 24 points shy of team-mate George Russell in the standings, so a win and a non-score for George would be enough to get him ahead in the drivers’ championship. It’s unlikely, but stranger things have happened this season. Either way, the seven-time champion will want to give his team of over a decade a send-off to remember.

Alpine vs Haas

Alpine and Haas have both seen late-season surges in performance, and that has thrust them into a midfield battle that will have serious implications for 2025.

In the drivers’ standings, Nico Hülkenberg currently occupies 10th on 37 points, but Pierre Gasly sits just one behind and is ready to pounce.

More importantly, in the constructors’ standings, the teams are jousting over sixth place, a battle worth an estimated six million pounds in prize money.

Alpine’s remarkable double podium in Brazil and Gasly’s excellent fifth last time out in Qatar have put the Enstone team in the driving seat on 59 points, but Haas have been consistently scoring points in all but one of the last eight races, so could easily cause an upset.

RB are also a part of the battle for sixth, but at 13 points behind Alpine, they are very much an outside chance with one round remaining.

Musical chairs at Red Bull 

2024 has been a lot of things, but it hasn’t been the year of Sergio Perez. The Mexican driver hasn’t scored a podium since China 18 races ago, so he will be looking to finish the year in more positive form and secure his future with Red Bull.

Meanwhile, at RB, Liam Lawson will be hoping to recapture his form from his first races in 2024. The New Zealander secured two ninths in his first three races, but team-mate Yuki Tsunoda has convincingly gotten the better of him at each of the last three rounds.

If Lawson can finish the year with an eye-catching performance, that could help the powers that be to make a call on his future within the full-fat Red Bull team.