The moment is finally here! We have reached Round 23, the final race of the Formula 1 2023 Championship and what a year it has been. With both the Drivers and the Constructors Championships sealed, one would say there is little to no excitement left over who wins the final race of the season.
We at Bookmaker Info beg to differ. Taking into account the resurrected Ferrari we saw in Las Vegas and Checo finally fighting alongside Max Verstappen, we have a feeling that Abu Dhabi will surely be a spectacle worth watching. Can Leclerc finally challenge Red Bull and claim the top spot podium finish? Or will Max Verstappen retain Red Bull’s spotless record this season and claim yet another victory? UK bookmaker William Hill has the latest odds!
※ Current Odds Date & Time: November 22nd, 9:00 A.M. (EST)
The odds for the final race of the season are somewhat expected, especially looking at Max Verstappen who is priced at only 1.25 for taking the win at Abu Dhabi. His teammate sits behind Lando Norris in 3rd place with a price of 15.00. A significant difference considering they both have a Red Bull race car at their disposal.
Onto to the more interesting odds now. The clear surprise for this weekend’s race is Lando Norris in 2nd place and Charles Leclerc in 4th. The latter being priced at 17.00 despite putting on a flawless performance in Las Vegas just a few days ago. Perhaps the different climate and conditions will not suit the Ferrari SF-23 challenger? We will have to wait and see.
The Circuit
The circuit for the final race of the season, as is customary, is the Yas Marina Circuit located on Yas Island, which is east of Abu Dhabi. This track was built in 2006 as a major tourist attraction at Marina Bay. Designed by Hermann Tilke, it has two straights that dominate the race track intertwined with a couple of slower turns before the finish line itself.
The track itself is a 5.281 km long circuit featuring 58 laps, 16 turns, 2 DRS zones and 1 speed trap covering a distance of 306.183 km during the race. Its first ever GP was held all the way back in 2009 and the current lap record is held by Max Verstappen with a time of 1:26.103 set in 2021.
What to Expect?
Going into Abu Dhabi we can’t help but remember the 2021 controversy sparked over the Championship winner due to safety car confusion. This year, we are hoping this can be avoided when it comes to the battle between Ferrari and Mercedes who are battling it out for the P2 spot in the Constructors Championship. With both teams being competitive, Abu Dhabi is sure to be an event that we hope will be without any such controversies.
Can we expect Ferrari to overtake Mercedes in the Constructors Championship? It is a tricky question to be answered as we do not know how the Abu Dhabi climate will suit the Ferrari challenger. Las Vegas could also be an exception to the rule as colder weather suited them. Even so, it would seem that Ferrari finally got to terms with their strategy and are able to compete at the highest level of this competition. If true, this is bad news for Mercedes and good news for the fans of F1.
Last, we would like to point out the fact that Red Bull has maintained a nearly perfect record this season, claiming victory time and time again purely through hard work, dedication and patience. Despite making it look easy, we assure you, Formula 1 is anything but easy with its obvious ups and downs. Should Red Bull take victory at Abu Dhabi, they will set yet another record that the competition will find very difficult to surpass or equal.
Thank you for staying with us throughout the season!
