P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The fight for second place in the championship standings has come down to the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi, with just four points separating Mercedes and Ferrari.
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff is confident that his team is prepared for a battle with Ferrari for second place in the Formula 1 standings at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Currently, Mercedes holds second place in the Constructors’ Championship, just four points ahead of Ferrari. Ferrari’s recent strong performance, including Charles Leclerc’s impressive last-lap move in Las Vegas, has increased their chances of overtaking Mercedes. Last year, Ferrari finished as the runner-up while Mercedes settled for third place, so Mercedes is determined to improve its position this year. Wolff acknowledges that it will be a close fight but believes that Mercedes can finish the season on a high note with a strong performance. At the previous round in Las Vegas, both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell encountered difficulties, with Hamilton experiencing contact and a puncture, and Russell sustaining damage after colliding with Max Verstappen. Despite these setbacks, Wolff commended the remarkable race in Las Vegas and acknowledged the hard work put in by everyone involved. He also acknowledged that, without the incidents, Mercedes would have been challenging for the podium.
