How this weekend's F1 race harks back to a landmark 2010 for Abu Dhabi

No sooner had last weekend’s grand prix concluded in Qatar, than it was confirmed Abu Dhabi would be the venue for a three-way title fight between Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri for the Formula One drivers’ championship on Sunday.

The last time more than two drivers were in title contention heading into the final race weekend was 15 years ago, when four racers had hopes of winning the championship in Abu Dhabi, which was the final race of the season then, as it is now.

Keen F1 followers will recall what happened next, in what was a 19-race season that finished in mid-November 2010, compared to this year’s 24-race title chase, which stretches into December.

Sebastian Vettel won the 2010 championship by winning the race at the Yas Marina Circuit, leaving his Red Bull teammate Mark Webber, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton trailing behind on points. The young German champion’s beaming smile illuminated our race report that evening, which bore the headline “Vettel scripts history in UAE capital”.

Most post-race analysis judged Ferrari to have made a tactical misstep by pitting pre-race title favourite Alonso too early at the Yas Marina Circuit and then getting stuck in traffic, something the team strategists of today will surely have taken note of. Any mistake in race planning on Sunday is likely to prove just as costly in this year’s title chase of fine margins.

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel won the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit, and with it the drivers' world championship. AFP Sebastian Vettel won the 2010 championship after a four-way battle with Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton. getty Fernando Alonso at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Race winner and 2010 world champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull celebrates at the Yas Marina Circuit. Getty Sebastian Vettel became Formula One’s youngest world champion with a pole to flag victory in Abu Dhabi. Andrew Henderson/The National Sebastian Vettel, of Red Bull Racing, won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Andrew Henderson / The National Sebastian Vettel takes the chequered flag at the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit. Andrew Henderson / The National Formula One end of season driver's portrait on the starting grid before the start of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit. Andrew Henderson / The National Sebastian Vettel beat Fernando Alonso to win the 2010 F1 drivers' championship. Andrew Henderson / The National Sebastian Vettel finished on 256 points in the 2010 F1 championship.