Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy website Abu Dhabi Grand Prix preview
december 07, 2021 - Williams Racing

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix preview

10th – 12th DECEMBER 2021
YAS MARINA CIRCUIT
ROUND 22

The 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship draws to a close this weekend, as the #yasmarinacircuit plays host to the final race of the year: the #abudhabi Grand Prix. The track, designed by Hermann Tilke, is dominated by a 1.2km-long straight between turns five and six, forming one of the longest acceleration stretches on the Formula One calendar. Recent renovations, including widening the hairpin at turn seven and eliminating the chicane on approach, along with a single sweeping banked turn replacing a series of 90-degree bends at the end of the second back straight, aim to increase overtaking opportunities and add to the event's excitement.

The FW43B will start its final Grand Prix in the late afternoon #abudhabi sunshine, before the race heads into twilight conditions and the flag falls on the 2021 season beneath the circuit's floodlights. Sunday will also mark George Russell's 59th and final Grand Prix with the team following a three-year tenure as a Williams #racing driver, with the team wishing him all the very best for the future.

On Friday, Jack Aitken, the team's Reserve Driver, will take to the track alongside #nicholaslatifi during the first Free Practice session, with George returning to the car for FP2. The session marks a remarkable return to fitness for Jack having recovered from multiple injuries suffered in an accident during the Spa 24 Hours #event in July.

Dave Robson, Head of Vehicle Performance: The final #event of the 2021 season sees us return to #abudhabi. The #yasmarinacircuit has become the traditional season finale and this year will host one of the most exciting climaxes to the season that we have seen in sometime. The circuit layout has been modified considerably since last year with fewer corners and a more flowing beginning and end to the double straight section. Combined with changes to the penultimate corner, the circuit is now significantly quicker, and the ease of overtaking may also be improved. The modified areas inevitably have a newer and smoother surface, which will have a small effect on tyre behaviour.

We know much of the circuit well and we are keen to explore the new corner complexes and to understand how they change the demands on the drivers and the car setup. Jack Aitken will drive George's car in FP1 this weekend and his experience and knowledge from the simulator will be a very useful compliment to Nicholas in the sister car. It will be a valuable assessment of both the general improvements made to the FW43B as well as the changes to this circuit.

Pirelli have brought their softest compound this week, which they have done for the last few years here. The performance will be a bit tricky in the warmer conditions of FP1, but by the evening, they will be working well.

This season has been intense and at times difficult, however, we have had some very enjoyable times and have made the most of several opportunities. If we can maintain eighth place in the Championship, then this will be a fair reward for the skill and dedication of everyone in Grove and at the track. Over the last few difficult seasons, nobody has dropped their commitment nor lost their #racing instinct and, no matter what the final result is, we can be proud of what we have achieved this year.

At the centre of much of what we have achieved over the last few years has been George. This weekend is his final race for the team. His enthusiasm, dedication and tremendous skill - as well as the occasional well-founded criticism - has been a major inspiration to the team throughout the bad times and the good times. We thank him for everything that he has brought to the team, wish him well for his future with Mercedes, and we hope that we have been able to give him some valuable experience and ideas that will serve him well in the future.

George Russell: We head to #abudhabi for the final race of the season and what is sure to be a weekend full of mixed emotions as my journey with Williams comes to an end. It has been an incredible three years with the team, with many highs but also some lows, but I am determined to go out in the best possible fashion and help the team secure eighth place in the Constructors' Championship. It would be a fitting reward for all the hard work and efforts from everyone at Grove over the past few years as we've battled back from our difficulties when I first joined the team. I am sure there will be plenty of feelings and emotions after the Grand Prix on Sunday but until then, my full focus is on the track and putting together a strong weekend.

I always enjoy #racing at Yas Marina and have happy memories from winning the FIA Formula 2 title there in 2018. I'm also looking forward to tackling the revised layout, which I think will help to create an improved spectacle, and hopefully be beneficial to our car's performance across the #event.

Related news

march 27, 2024
march 25, 2024
march 24, 2024

Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez went head-to-head in an Aussie surf lifesaver challenge, but it wa...

KICK Sauber F1 Team didn’t just go Down Under – it also went fully sideways, as Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu joined KICK for a ...

Tough end to challenging weekend down underBoth George Russell and Lewis Hamilton failed to finish Sunday's Australian Grand Prix....

You might be interested in

march 23, 2024
march 20, 2024
march 19, 2024

Difficult qualifying session dampens early promise from FP3George Russell qualified seventh and Lewis Hamilton 11th for the Austra...

Daniel Ricciardo #3"Alright, Australia race week! I’m home, feels great, it’s warm, it’s sunny, can’t wait, let’s get the season g...

KICK Sauber F1 Team heads to Australia for the third round of the Formula One World Championship. Against the backdrop of Albert P...