Formula 1’s constructors’ championship is set for a thrilling conclusion this weekend at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where one of two historic teams, McLaren or Ferrari, is poised to claim the title. Red Bull, who have dominated the drivers’ championship with Max Verstappen, will not be able to defend their manufacturers’ crown due to a lack of consistent support from teammate Sergio Perez, who sits eighth in the drivers’ standings. This will leave the team finishing no better than second place, with third place being more likely, given the 38-point gap to the top two.
The battle for the championship is now between McLaren and Ferrari, with McLaren holding a 21-point advantage heading into the final race. To secure the title, McLaren needs to maintain or extend this lead over Ferrari, with a strong performance from both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. If either McLaren driver wins the race, the title will be theirs, but even a finish of second and seventh, or third and fifth, could suffice, especially if Ferrari fails to achieve a 1-2 finish and the extra point for the fastest lap.
Ferrari, who have not won the constructors’ title since 2008, have a slimmer chance of victory. For Ferrari to take the title, McLaren would likely need to fail to score, and Ferrari would need to finish with 22 points. This could be achieved by a win and second-place finish for Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, respectively. If McLaren finishes in the points, Ferrari’s hopes would diminish significantly, although a 1-2 finish by Ferrari with the fastest lap could still potentially tie the teams. In this case, Ferrari’s greater number of race wins would give them the edge.
While McLaren has been strong all season, particularly on circuits with medium-speed, heavy layouts, Ferrari, led by the in-form Leclerc, will still need a bit of luck, including McLaren faltering. With Verstappen and Mercedes also showing strong recent performances, the situation remains highly unpredictable. As Murray Walker famously said, “Anything can happen in Formula 1 and it usually does,” making the final race weekend all the more exciting.
