The 2017 Formula 1 season wraps up this weekend, as the drivers head to Abu Dhabi. Lewis Hamilton has already won the Drivers’ Championship title, but there’s still going to be a lot of competition for the final race of the season. Who will walk away with maximum points this weekend? While the bookmakers seem pretty confident on the winner here, we’re not as confident in the champion and his focus on this Grand Prix.
Hamilton eased off after winning the title in 2015, and his fourth place finish last time out suggests that he’s not desperate for more victories. He did claim that his ultimate aim was to catch Michael Schumacher’s record total of victories, but he’s clearly prioritising next season’s title challenge and taking a bit of a breather this time around. Will that open up a gap for another driver to take maximum points here?
Who Will Win?
Hamilton comes in to this race as 10/11 favourite with Ladbrokes, which seems quite short after his last couple of results. The last two races in Abu Dhabi have been won by future champions, with momentum from the finish usually pushing drivers towards a challenge the following season.
One man to watch out for is Sebastian Vettel, who finished third at this race last year. He may have trailed the Mercedes duo then, but it set him up for a push for this year’s Drivers’ Championship. That wasn’t his most impressive performance here, given that he won the inaugural Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi back in 2009. He’s won this race three times in total, and he’s got to be a threat on Sunday.
Vettel won in Brazil last time out, and he’s searching for back to back victories for the first time since 2013. That was the last season in which the German won the championship, and now he is getting close to challenging again with Ferrari. He could make a big statement with a win here, and we think he’s great value to add to last week’s win and continue his great form at this track.
Betting Tip – Sebastian Vettel at 13/5 with Betfair
Each Way Tips and Other Bets
Aside from Hamilton, no one else has taken more pole positions this season than Sebastian Vettel. The German topped qualifying at the Mexican Grand Prix, so we’re backing him to secure pole position at 4/1 with BetVictor.
Max Verstappen beat Vettel at the Mexican Grand Prix, and his last five races have seen him win two races and finish as a runner-up once. That makes us think he’s great value to finish in the top three at 6/5 with Coral.
Given that form, we’re also tempted by Verstappen to win each-way here, given he’s out at 11/1 with Bet365. That seems like a huge price given his recent form, and we’re backing him as an outsider to win this one.