Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Five reasons why you should watch the 2015 season finale

The battle at the front may be over, but there's still much to play for down the field

Kimi Raikkonen (left) and Valterri Botas (right) will duke it out for fourth place in the Drivers' Championship (Getty Images)

The Yas Marina Circuit will play host to the final F1 race of the 2015 season this Sunday, bringing down the curtain on a second consecutive Mercedes-dominated year.

With Hamilton’s late overtake in Austin back in October came victory, and the sealing of his third world title. Similarly, Mercedes put the Constructor’s title out of Ferrari’s reach two weeks prior in Russia, too - so what positions are there left to be determined in Abu Dhabi?

Flying Finns fight for fourth

Valtteri Bottas – 4th place - 136 pts

Kimi Raikkonen – 5th place – 135 pts

Arguably the most prestigious fight is that for fourth place, contested by fellow countrymen Kimi Raikkonen and Valtteri Bottas.

The term ‘Flying Finn’ often gets thrown around too much in motor racing; what was once an homage to Rallying ace Juha Kankunnen is now a default prefix for any speedy Scandinavian.

However, both drivers can claim the moniker quite literally this year, after taking each other out in different races. Raikkonen’s desperate lunge on the final lap in Russia pitched Bottas into the wall, caused self-inflicted suspension damage, and a time penalty that culminated in Mercedes winning the Constructors title.

Neither driver would accept responsibility - not then, nor when a carbon-copy collision occurred in Mexico three weeks later, but with Raikkonen the victim instead.

Bottas currently has a one-point advantage over Raikkonen, sat in fourth place with 136 points to Kimi's 135.

Internal battle at Red Bull

Daniil Kvyat – 7th place – 94 pts

Daniel Ricciardo – 8th place – 84 pts

Red Bull driver supremacy is a distinction with a gulf of ten points; Daniil Kvyat on 94, and Daniel Ricciardo on 84. Both drivers have made the Red Bull’s straight-line handicapped RB11 flourish on slower tracks, manifesting best in the duo of Dans’ double-podium in Hungary.

Scrap for the top 10

Nico Hulkenberg – 10th place – 52 pts

Romain Grosjean – 11th place – 49 pts

Max Verstappen – 12th place – 49 pts

Further down is the three-way tussle for the final place in the top ten between three of the most exciting drivers on the grid; Le Mans winner Nico Hulkenberg, Haas-bound Romain Grosjean, and rookie of the year Max Verstappen.

Max Verstappen has been one of the finds of the season (Getty Images)

The latter two are tied on 49 points, bolstered by a podium appearance in Belgium for Grosjean, and a brace of fourth places for Verstappen in the rain-affected Hungarian and United States Grands Prix. The more consistent Hulkenberg has notched little and often, and is three points ahead of both in tenth place, with 52 points.

Latin-American duel

Felipe Nasr – 13th – 27 pts

Pastor Maldonado – 14th – 27 pts

The prospect of being the second-fastest South American is also very much open, with Maldonado and Nasr both on 27 points, vying for 13th place.

Youth v Experience

Carlos Sainz – 15th – 18 pts

Jenson Button – 16th – 16 pts

Carlos Sainz (18) and Jenson Button (16) are both separated by two points, and while Sainz can consider his rookie year a modest success, Button would not have started the year wishing for 15th place.

Kevin Magnussen retired from the only race he was pencilled-in for in Australia, and Alexander Rossi will not race this weekend owing to GP2 commitments, meaning the two will finish the season at the bottom of the standings.


 McLaren are unlikely to overtake Sauber in the Constructors' Championship
 (AFP/Getty)

It's unlikely, but Abu Dhabi is the last chance for Manor drivers Will Stevens - who made his F1 debut here last year for Caterham's swansong - and Roberto Merhi, to break their duck.

The Constructors’ championship has far fewer conclusions to be drawn. The only real fight is between Lotus and Toro Rosso for 6th place in the standings. Lotus currently occupy the place with 76 points, but Toro Rosso are nipping at their heels with 67, just nine adrift.

At a stretch, McLaren could surpass Sauber, who started the year strongly but have fallen back through the order during the year. However, the struggling outfit from Woking would have to score ten points more than the Swiss team - a points total they have not attained since the Hungarian Grand Prix in July.