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Formula 1 returns for the final time in 2018 as the circus travels to the Yas Marina Circuit for the 10th running of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. With both championships already wrapped up after Brazil, you'd be forgiven for thinking this one is a bit of a dead rubber, but there's plenty to be decided up and down the grid.
There are some close battles in the driver's standings to be wrapped up and placings in the all-important constructor's championship still to be decided. With the top 3 teams being seemingly closer than at any point this season, we should have a very competitive battle for the victory on Sunday as well.
#1 Ricciardo with a Farewell RBR Win
After Daniel Ricciardo won the Monaco Grand Prix in fantastic style - despite his MGU-K failure - we all thought that there was a 3-way battle for this year's driver's championship between Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and the Honey Badger.
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However, since then, the Aussie hasn't stood on the podium in what has been a rotten run of bad luck, but I believe he could have an upturn in fortunes this weekend.
Ricciardo had a great race in Brazil and would've stood on the podium had it not been for some excellent defending by Kimi Raikkonen. The Renault-powered Red Bull will struggle on Yas Marina's two long back-straights, but the tight and twisty sectors one and three will favour the RBR's chassis, which is generally accepted to be the best of the grid.
Ricciardo has been with the Red Bull programme since 2009 and been a part of their senior team since he burst onto the F1 scene in 2014. With a confirmed move to Renault for next season, this could be Ricciardo's last chance for a win until 2020, we'll miss his beaming smile on the podium.
#2 Sauber to Claim 7th in the Constructor's Championship
Another bold one, but it's very possible given current form. Sauber have had a huge resurgence in 2018 after their dismal campaign in 2017 and eighth place in the constructor's championship perhaps doesn't do the Swiss outfit justice.
They currently sit 6 points behind Force India (thanks to their points being wiped before Spa) and have a shot of overtaking them at the final round. In Brazil, Marcus Ericsson and Charles Leclerc qualified a very impressive P6 and P7 for the race and if they repeat that performance in the race in the UAE, then they'd comfortably usurp the Silverstone outfit.
It may sound like a long shot, but it could easily happen, but only if one of the top 6 retire with a mechanical failure, which is a real possibility with the engines being pushed to the max to finish the season. It partly relies on Force India finishing outside the points, but with Haas, Renault and McLaren all likely suiting Yas Marina, it's very possible.
#3 Verstappen to Finish 4th Overall
Kimi Raikkonen has an advantage of 14 points over Valtteri Bottas, so if the latter finishes he will more than likely seal third in the driver's championship. However, the battle for fourth is less clear, with Bottas being just 3 points ahead of Max Verstappen.
If Verstappen won in Brazil - like he would've done had it not been for some brainless driving by the Dutchman - he'd probably already have this confirmed, but I believe the Red Bull driver will confirm this on Sunday.
Bottas has been off-kilter ever since he was forced to move over and hand the win to Lewis Hamilton in Russia, and I'll be very surprised if he finishes on the podium in Abu Dhabi.
Verstappen, though, has a very good car under him (as I outlined previously) and Mad Max will still be steaming from Sao Paulo, so it'd be a surprise if he didn't make the top 3, or even stand on the podium.
#4 Fernando Alonso to Retire
No, not from the sport, although that will obviously happen at the end of the year. This may seem harsh, but all the signs are pointing towards a quiet whimper rather than a roaring triumphant end to the great Spaniard's career.
McLaren had their worst qualifying session since the 1980's in Brazil and weren't much better during the race itself. Yas Marina should be a circuit that suits the papaya-coloured cars more than Interlagos, but lower-end points are all I can see them achieving.
Alonso wants this season to end early, and he might get his wish, with the McLaren not being the most reliable of cars this campaign. Let's just hope that 2019 in Indy Car will bring the double world champions some joy and earn him the triple crown, an accolade that only Graham Hill has achieved before.
#5 Lap Record to be Broken... Twice
Surprisingly, the lap record of Yas Marina has remained intact since Sebastian Vettel's first fastest lap there in 2009, despite the 2017 cars arguably being the fastest of all time.
The 2018 cars are even faster, though, and with Bottas getting within 0.4 seconds of Vettel's record last season, it'll likely be broken this weekend. Who will break it is anybody's guess, but I'd like it to be Kimi Raikkonen, as the Finn will get his last realistic chance to set the fastest lap, as he moves to Sauber next season.
With Raikkonen having an extremely impressive 46, second only to the great Michael Schumacher on the all-time records list. Lewis Hamilton will likely overtake the Finn in the record tables next season, but Raikkonen's legacy of superb late surges of pace will remain intact.
What do you think will happen with the weekend? Let us know in the comments below!
