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Both start with the same number of points (369.5: 369.5) in the 22nd and final race of the season on late Sunday afternoon local time on the Yas Marina Circuit (2 p.m. CET / Sky). Sebastian Vettel is more likely to drive out of the way if the paths should cross. The four-time world champion came in 15th in the losing Aston Martin – annoyed because he was also held up by a strange build-up of traffic jams on the track – Mick Schumacher (Haas) finished 19th, again beating his team-mate Nikita Mazepin for the 19th time in 22 grid races.
Hope for a chance to overtake
After this result, what is left for the loser of the day? The realistic hope of a chance to overtake in the course of the Grand Prix. Because Red Bull has a weak point. After Verstappen had ruined a set of tires because of a brake in the second run of the starting position race, he had to use the softest tires on the way to the fastest lap. According to the regulations, this choice forces you to start with this type, while Hamilton is allowed to start the race on the longer-lasting medium mixture.
The more grippy rubbers allow his rival to “fully attack” from the first moment, namely to pull away right after the start until the first pit stop. But the grip of this type of tire, which is colored red on the flank, according to Friday’s experience, should collapse after eight or nine laps. “One to zero for Red Bull,” said Mercedes’ sports director Wolff, “that was cleverly done. But their strategy with the softer tires seems suboptimal to me. We have more variants. Still it will be difficult. “
Little movement in the procession
Because the Yas Marina Circuit is not a playing field for overtaking artists. Since Formula 1 premiered in the United Arab Emirates in 2009, there have seldom been races with a lot of movement in the battle for better places. The route was recently changed, a chicane and some corners fell victim to the conversion. The course is smoother, some curve radii have been enlarged. The lap time immediately fell by around twelve seconds compared to last year. The full load share rose to a maximum of 75 percent. That suits the Mercedes, the drive is considered to be the greatest force in the field.
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