Finally, we have reached the last episode of the F1 season, episode 25 of 25, with the constructors' title still up for grabs.
Everything will be decided on the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi, in a showdown that seems almost tailor-made, with Ferrari needing to close the 21-point gap to McLaren. The latter missed a key opportunity to seal the championship last weekend in Qatar.
Twenty-one points. Is that a lot or a little? Logically, McLaren remains the favorite: they can play it safe, settling for a podium finish. Ferrari, on the other hand, is virtually forced to achieve a one-two finish, a daunting task considering their history at Yas Marina and their tendency for mistakes. It seems like a mission impossible.
As always, the track will deliver the final verdict, possibly with some surprises. We will see if, after 26 years, the constructors' title will return to Woking. However, given that the circuit is not among the most exciting, other teams might step in and complicate things for the two main contenders.
Verstappen will want to close the year with a victory to prepare well for 2025. Mercedes, in good form, is about to conclude the Hamilton era as he prepares for his new journey with Ferrari. They will undoubtedly try to surprise. It will be a tense weekend, and as often happens in these situations, the winner will be the one who makes fewer mistakes and has more luck—an area where Ferrari doesn't excel.
Alpine, Haas, and Racing Bulls also have some goals left to achieve, but with few points remaining, significant changes in the standings seem unlikely.
The last race of the year also provides an opportunity to reflect on what has been and what lies ahead:
I recently read that F1 is now the most popular sport in the world, with 750 million fans, 41% of whom are women, and significant growth in the Middle East. However, I remember that sports like soccer, cricket, basketball, field hockey, tennis, volleyball, and even ping pong had larger fan bases. Nevertheless, it's undeniable that F1 is gaining more and more followers. The problem is that, as popularity increases, competition and technical aspects seem to take a back seat to spectacle and controversies. Still, Liberty Media has hit its goals perfectly—no question about it.
Hamilton's move to Ferrari is an intriguing one: will he be the driver we saw in Bahrain or the one admired in Las Vegas? A provocative but important question. For Elkann, the sporting aspect is secondary to the benefits for the brand and finances. I'm curious to see how this phase of Hamilton's career will end.
Perez's future seems uncertain, despite his financial contributions. Will Verstappen have a new teammate to dominate, or will money still have the final say?
Some point to 2025 as the year McLaren cements itself as the team to beat, while others predict a new Mercedes dominance starting in 2026, thanks to a revolutionary power unit. Which of these predictions will come true?
© Simone Marchetti