Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Hamilton ready to ’round off historic season’ with win in UAE

Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have already secured top spot in the Drivers and Constructors standings respectively some time ago, but by no means is the season over.

There is still pride, points and several other important issues at stake as the drivers take to the tracks for one last time in 2019.

The Yas Marina Circuit in the United Arab Emirates plays host to the last of the 21 races of the season, where several drivers will be looking to finish the campaign in style in one of the most stylish venues in the world.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix takes place on Sunday, with Hamilton unsurprisingly favourite to clinch top spot yet again. The Briton clinched victory at the 55-lap, 5.554-kilometre circuit last year, and will be keen to replicate that win this time around.

He can be backed at 6/4 to do just that.

Ferrari’s Sebastien Vettel took second in 2018, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen securing third. The former is currently 9/2 to win the race this year, with the latter available at 10/3.

Vettel won the event with Red Bull back in 2009 in the Yas Marina Circuit’s Formula 1 debut, before going on to win his first title in Abu Dhabi a year later.

But it’s been Hamilton and Mercedes who have been celebrating this season, with just one race left before a well-deserved break. And where better to celebrate than at the Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island, which stands proud as one of the most sophisticated racing tracks in the world, costing an estimated US$1 billion to construct

Elsewhere on Yas Island sits seven hotels, a water park, golf course, nightclub, beach and Ferrari’s indoor theme park. But it’s the Hermann Tilke-designed track – with slow speed corners and tricky turns – that will be of most importance to the drivers come Sunday.

Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas is currently 20/1 to win the race, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc 5/2.

Others looking to cause a shock to the system include Alexander Albon and Daniel Ricciardo. Red Bull’s Albon is currently 25/1 to secure a surprise victory, with Renault’s Ricciardo a massive outsider at 500/1.

A Mercedes win has been given odds of 11/10, while a Ferrari victory is 6/4.

Red Bull and McLaren can be backed at 10/3 and 250/1 respectively.

Verstappen will be full of confidence heading into the race after taking first place in a thrilling Brazilian Grand Prix earlier this month. The Red Bull driver twice passed Hamilton to clinch top spot.

Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly took second, and McLaren’s Carlos Sainz finished in third in Sao Paulo after collisions between Leclerc and Vettel, and Hamilton and Bottas. Both Gasly and Sainz are 500/1 to win in Abu Dhabi.