When is the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix? Start time, TV channel
Fernando Alonso’s last race in F1 (maybe), Kimi Raikkonen’s swansong for Ferrari, Daniel Ricciardo’s last rodeo with Red Bull – the 2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix still has plenty of reasons to watch.
Alonso retires from the sport (for now) after another disappointing season for McLaren, while Raikkonen and Ricciardo start afresh in 2019 with Sauber and Renault respectively.
Lewis Hamilton has already clinched a fifth world drivers’ title while his all-conquering Mercedes team are champion constructors yet again.
Will the British ace end the season on the highest of notes or will Sebastian Vettel gain some small crumb of consolation with victory on Sunday?
Here is a guide to all you need to now about the upcoming weekend at Yas Marina – including details of how to watch the race on TV and the latest betting odds.
What time does the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix start?
The start times for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix are as follows:
Practice 1: Friday November 23, 1300 local time (0900 GMT)
Practice 2: Friday November 23, 1700 local time (1300 GMT)
Practice 3: Saturday November 24, 1400 local time (1000 GMT)
Qualifying: Saturday November 24, 1700 local time (1300 GMT)
Race: Sunday November 25, 1710 local time (1310 GMT)
Where does the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix take place?
Featuring an underground pitlane, a first in F1, a hotel that straddles the track and run in an anti-clockwise direction, the Yas Marina circuit is not only a spectacle under the lights but a unique experience for the sport.
Like many of today’s modern circuits, renowned circuit architect Hermann Tilke is responsible for the track layout, which includes 21 corners over the 5.554kms.
Comprising high speed sections as well as the twists of a street circuit, the track’s corners are tight to encourage overtaking while along the longest straight on the F1 calendar drivers can hit speeds of up to 320 km/h. The average speed is 195 km/h.
The circuit is situated on Yas Island, which is a man-made island in Abu Dhabi, just a short drive from the Abu Dhabi Island. It can also be reached by plane and boat.
Sunday’s race will be run over 55 laps.
Where can I watch the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on TV?
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend – including the race proper – will be screened live in the UK by pay-TV broadcaster Sky Sports on its dedicated Sky Sports F1 channel. It will also be aired live by free-to-air broadcaster Channel 4.
Subscribers to F1’s own app can hear radio commentary on the race proper from the BBC and access live data around each session.
PlanetF1 will carry live timing and expert commentary on every session of the race weekend along with all the latest news from the track.
The Abu Dhabi Prix will be shown live on TV by the following outlets in other key markets:
United States: ESPN (English), Univision (Spanish)
Canada: RDS (French), TSN (English)
Australia: Fox Sports
France: Canal +
Italy: Sky Sport F1
Germany: RTL
Spain: Movistar F1
What is the weather forecast for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?
Friday November 23: 30C, sunny.
Saturday November 24: 32C, sunny.
Sunday November 25: 34C, sunny.
Which drivers have won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?
Sunday’s race will be the 10th Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the event having started in 2009. Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel have both won the race three times while among the constructors Mercedes holds a 4-3 win edge over Red Bull. Previous winners of the race are:
2009 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2010 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2011 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2012 Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
2013 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2014 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2015 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2016 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2017 Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
Track Lap Record: 1:40.279 by Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull, 2009)
What are the odds for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?
Lewis Hamilton is now favourite to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
4/6 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
3/1 Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
9/2 Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
14/1 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
16/1 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
20/1 Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
(Prices correct at 1800 GMT on Saturday November 24)
What are the latest F1 Championship standings?
The driver and constructor standings are as follows:
Drivers’ Championship
Lewis Hamilton – 383 points
Sebastian Vettel – 302 points
Kimi Raikkonen – 251 points
Valtteri Bottas – 237 points
Max Verstappen – 234 points
Daniel Ricciardo – 158 points
Constructors’ Championship
Mercedes – 620 points
Ferrari – 553 points
Red Bull – 391 points
Full F1 championship standings are here
Tyre compounds for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
F1 tyre manufacturer Pirelli will bring three compounds to Yas Marina – the red supersoft tyre, the purple ultrasoft tyre and the pink hypsersoft tyre.
