Staggering 27-year F1 streak BROKEN at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Staggering 27-year F1 streak BROKEN at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix saw a long-standing Formula 1 record broken as FP1 played host to the first session in 27 years without a champion on the track.
With Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso on the sidelines in the first practice session, it meant that there were no champions on the circuit for the first time since the 1996 French Grand Prix.
There had been a champion scheduled to race that day in 1996, but Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher suffered an engine failure on the formation lap – preventing him from taking the start.
While Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve and Mika Hakkinen all raced too, they were not yet F1 champions.
READ MORE: Christian Horner: The Red Bull giant and ‘Drive to Survive’ star
Future talent looms
The next four championships were won by the trio before Schumacher went on a historic streak of dominance with Ferrari.
FP1 gave teams the opportunity to test young drivers in their cars – ones that could go on to become champions much like Hill, Villeneuve and Hakkinen.
Frederik Vesti, who drove for Mercedes and is vying for the F2 title this weekend, could be the next of the young drivers who tested on Friday to make their way onto the grid with an opening at Williams still up for grabs.
He won Saturday's F2 sprint race - his sixth victory of the season, which massively boosts his chances at a drive and championship.
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F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
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