Mercedes F1 To “Give It All” At The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Giancarlo Perlas November 24, 2023With Ferrari looking to overtake it in the Formula 1 Constructors’ Standings, Mercedes F1 is looking to “give it all” at the last race of the season in Abu Dhabi. However, there are new challenges ahead that the Yas Marina circuit has in store for them.
The Second Spot Battle for the Constructors
F1 has already crowned Max Verstappen as the 2023 Drivers’ Champion and Red Bull as the season’s top Constructor. However, the second spot in the Constructors is yet to be decided with Ferrari looking to close its four-point gap against Mercedes.
Mercedes F1 currently holds the second spot with 392 points in the standings. Meanwhile, Ferrari is dangerously trailing it with 388 points.
“Ferrari have closed the gap in the Constructors’ to just four points and we’re ready to give it our all in Abu Dhabi,” said Toto Wolff.
“They have shown good form recently, but we know we haven’t maximized our performance in the past few races,” the Mercedes F1 boss added.
“It will be a close fight, and hopefully, we can finish the season with a strong performance and on the front foot,” he went on further.
On the Drivers’ Standings, Lewis Hamilton has the third position locked with 232 points and George Russell is holding the eighth with 160 points.
Challenges at the Abu Dhabi GP for Mercedes F1
The Yas Marina circuit at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was conceived by German engineer and former racing driver Hermann Tilke. The circuit designer is known for his “dramatic architecture that reflects the host country” and the integration of fast corners in his work.
The 2023 season-ender race features a 5.281 km circuit with a race distance of 306.298 km and 58 laps. The much-awaited Grand Prix event will take place during sunset or at night.
Some critical elements at the Abu Dhabi GP that drivers should watch out for include the following:
- The removal of the chicane upon entry to the second sector and the widening hairpin after.
- The replacement of the twisty chicanes at the final sector in favor of a single long, banked corner.
- The differing track temperatures call for careful tire management.
- The tunneling pitlane means the drivers must pass under the track before rejoining on the left-hand side of the track at Turn 2.
