Formula 1: Top 7 most iconic moments in Abu Dhabi GP history

The Abu Dhabi GP at the Yas Marina Circuit will host the final race of the 2023 Formula 1 season. Despite Max Verstappen and Red Bull securing the drivers’ championship and the constructors’ championship, respectively, there are still a few scores to settle ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which will be held on November 26, 2023.

In its 14-year history, the track has played host to some exciting races that have given Formula One fans around the globe truly memorable moments. From title deciders to mysterious crashes to comeback wins, today we take a look at the seven most iconic moments from the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. 

7. Sebastian Vettel’s mysterious puncture in 2011

2011 was perhaps Sebastian Vettel’s most dominant season in Formula 1. He won 11 out of the 19 races, won the championship by 122 points, and took 15 pole positions, but if not for his DNF at the Abu Dhabi GP, he’d have ended the season with a 100-percent record for finishing the race in points-paying positions.

However, what’s more intriguing is the fact that neither Red Bull nor Pirelli were able to point out a specific reason for this sudden tyre failure. Investigation reports at the time ruled out structural failure as the cause but suggested outside debris could’ve played a role, however, they didn’t find anything to back up those suggestions. 

6. Goodbye to BMW and Toyota

The inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2009 holds a special place in the hearts of most racing fans.  The race at the Yas Marina Circuit in 2009 was also the first day-night Grand Prix in Formula 1 history, with the race starting well past five in the evening. Besides, this was the last race of the BMW Sauber and Toyota teams, two iconic teams that have left their mark in F1 folklore. 

5. Flying Rosberg 

The 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is one Nico Rosberg won’t look back at much fondly, however, it is one which he’ll always remember for an entirely different reason. Driving for Mercedes, the German driver was in the process of overtaking the lapped Narayan Karthikeyan on lap 8, whose car was supposedly breaking down with a hydraulic failure, however, Rosberg, unaware of this, crashed into the back of the Indian driver’s car before being launched into the barrier, sending debris all over the track. Considering the scale of damage, it was a miracle that both the drivers emerged unharmed from the incident.

4. Kimi Raikkonen’s comeback victory

The Iceman returned to Formula 1 in 2012, three years after leaving the sport in 2009. Since the start of the season, driving for Lotus, the Finn received much criticism, with many questioning his motivation and racing abilities at the pinnacle of motorsport racing. 

However, Raikkonen’s brilliant victory in the penultimate race of the 2012 season changed all that, as he showed the world that he still had what it takes to win in Formula 1. The Finn used all his experience to control the race pace and secure a memorable win, beating off the likes of Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel who were embroiled in a championship battle themselves. 

3. 2010 Championship decider

The entire 2010 world championship depended on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with the final race of the 2010 Formula 1 season featuring four drivers who stood a chance to claim the drivers’ championship. Heading into the race, Fernando Alonso led the championship from Mark Webber followed by Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton, who still had a mathematical chance to clinch the title.

Vettel started the race from pole position with Hamilton alongside him on the front row of the grid. Alonso and Webber couldn’t match Vettel’s pace and started the race from third and fifth place respectively.

Vettel was in command for most of the race as Webber’s and Alonso’s title chances evaporated when both the drivers had to pit for a change of tyres due to their collisions with the barriers. The German held his ground and displayed immense maturity to win his first F1 world championship title.

2. Rosberg wins Championship 

The Yas Marina Circuit hosted the final round of the 2016 Formula 1 season, during which the world champion had to be decided between the two Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. 

Nico Rosberg headed into the final Grand Prix with a 12-point lead over his teammate. Hamilton needed his teammate to finish outside the podium and for him to win the race to claim the championship, while Rosberg had the luxury of winning the title if he stayed close to Hamilton throughout the race.

However, the race went down to the wire when Hamilton started ignoring race orders and intentionally backed up Rosberg especially during the latter stages of the race, when he faced increased threats from Verstappen and Vettel, to finish the race in second place behind his teammate. But the German held his nerve and secured his one and only world title. 

1. Max Verstappen wins the 2021 World Championship 

The 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is one for the ages. The two championship protagonists came into the final round of the season equal on points, Hamilton with arguably the faster car but Verstappen not far behind. 

Verstappen started on pole but was quickly jumped by Hamilton at the start, who dictated terms from thereon. But with the pit stops out of the way, and Red Bull and Sergio Perez doing their best to keep Max in the hunt, it all seemed lost until five laps from the end Nicholas Latifi crashed his Williams, and what followed was utter chaos. 

Verstappen pitted from second to change into softs while Hamilton stayed out, however, there were five lapped cars between them now. In a sudden turn of events, race director Micheal Masi allowed only the lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to unlap themselves, ending the safety car protocol with just one lap remaining. A one-lap shootout. 

In the end, Max Verstappen won the race after an epic last lap at the Yas Marina Circuit and claimed his maiden world title. For all the action, the drama, and the controversies, there couldn’t be a more iconic moment in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

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