The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix may be over five months away, but there’s every indication that this could be one of the most exciting motor races to ever hit the UAE. This is because the race is the final challenge of the current Formula 1 season, and it could seal Max Verstappen’s first ever F1 championship title. But there’s every indication that Lewis Hamilton will put up a real fight to retain the crown. All of which means that there could be plenty of fireworks in Adu Dhabi when the race takes place on 12 December.

Huge moment for sport in the UAE

It’s something of a coup for the UAE to host such an important Grand Prix race. After all, the region is more famous for racehorse owners than motor racing enthusiasts. In fact, if you visit horsebetting.com, many of the leading bookmakers would have bonuses and odds for use on runners owned by the likes of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. However, with the arrival of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the T20 Cricket World Cup and the remaining games of the Indian Premier League, the UAE is setting itself up to be a global sporting hotspot.

Previous instalments of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix have proven to be very successful for Lewis Hamilton. The British driver has won the race a record five times, and he’ll be desperate to reclaim the F1 Championship title in the UAE.

However it’s worth noting that it was Max Verstappen who won the last Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It was a flawless display by the Dutch driver who topped the podium ahead of Valtteri Bottas. All of which means that all eyes will be on Verstappen to put in another fearless performance to claim his first-ever Formula 1 title.

Big things expected from 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

While last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix provided an exceptional win for Verstappen, this year’s race could be even more exciting. This is because there are big plans to amend the race circuit so as to feature more passing opportunities. The race circuit on Yas Island had previously been criticised by many F1 pundits, while racing stars such as Daniel Ricciardo have been extremely vocal in their support for track changes.

The final layout of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has yet to be revealed, but it’s been reported that there will be wider hairpins and even entire chicane sections removed. All of which should provide a greater chance of overtaking on what could be a hugely important race. 

Of course, there’s every chance that the 2021 F1 Championship could be decided by then. Verstappen has already pulled away to a remarkable 18 point lead at the top of the F1 standings ahead of Hamilton. The Dutch driver has been in commanding form with three wins in his last four Grand Prix races.

Impressive performances in Austria, France and Monaco have meant that the title is increasingly tilting in Red Bull’s favour. Conversely, Hamilton and Mercedes have had a disappointing run of results. While Hamilton made a decent start to his campaign with three wins out of four, Mercedes have struggled to produce a car that is worthy of the driver.

Obviously, there are plenty of races to go before a true picture emerges of who’s most likely to win this year’s F1 championship. Much will be decided in upcoming races in Austria, England and Hungary. Plus Hamilton has proven himself to be very capable of delivering some incredible fight backs in the past. This means that this year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix could be the most exciting race in the UAE yet.