F1 LIVE: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Race Updates as Championship Reaches Climax

The 2024 Formula 1 World Championship will be decided today at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri all mathematically in contention for the title. Norris enters the final race with a points lead, but the outcome hinges on the result of the season's concluding 58 laps at the Yas Marina Circuit.

Why it matters:

This race marks the culmination of a fiercely competitive season and will determine whether Norris secures his maiden world championship or if Verstappen can mount a comeback to claim a fourth consecutive title. For Piastri, a victory would require a highly specific set of circumstances, but his presence keeps the mathematical possibility alive, adding another layer of intrigue to the finale.

The details:

• Norris's Position: McLaren's Lando Norris holds the advantage, needing to finish ahead of or closely behind his rivals to clinch the championship based on the points scenarios.
• Verstappen's Challenge: Red Bull's Max Verstappen must win the race and hope Norris finishes well down the order to have any chance of retaining his title, a tall order but not impossible given the unpredictable nature of F1.
• Piastri's Long Shot: Teammate Oscar Piastri's title hopes are the slimmest, requiring a win and both Norris and Verstappen to encounter significant problems, making his a story of potential rather than probability.
• Strategic Battle: The race will be a complex tactical affair, with teams balancing tire strategy, pit stop windows, and track position in the final event where every point is critical.

What's next:

The championship battle will be settled over the next two hours. The focus now shifts to the start, the first lap, and the inevitable strategic moves that will define this historic finale. Regardless of the result, the 2024 season concludes with a dramatic showdown that encapsulates the year's competitive spirit.