Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix 2014: Start Time, Lineup, TV Schedule and More
The 2014 Formula One season comes down to the wire at this weekend's unique double-points Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg both still in with a chance of winning the title.
The two team-mates will go head-to-head as they have done all year at the Yas Marina circuit as the Brit starts the weekend with a 17-point advantage over Rosberg.
Hamilton can come second to his German team-mate in Abu Dhabi and still take the world championship, but the awarding of double points—50 for the race win—for the season closer makes things harder for the former McLaren man than he may have wanted.
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Read on for a full preview of Sunday's title decider as well as the start time, drivers' lineup and television schedule.
TV Schedule
| Date | Session | Start Time (GMT/ET) | BBC1 Start (UK) | NBCSN Start (US) |
| Nov. 22 | Qualifying | 1 p.m./8 a.m | 12:10 p.m. GMT | 8 a.m. ET |
| Nov. 23 | Race | 1 p.m./8 a.m | 12:10 p.m. GMT | 7:30 a.m. ET |
Lineup
| Team | Driver | Driver |
| Mercedes | Lewis Hamilton | Nico Rosberg |
| Red Bull | Daniel Ricciardo | Sebastian Vettel |
| Ferrari | Kimi Raikkonen | Fernando Alonso |
| McLaren | Jenson Button | Kevin Magnussen |
| Toro Rosso | Jean-Eric Vergne | Daniil Kvyat |
| Williams | Valtteri Bottas | Felipe Massa |
| Sauber | Adrian Sutil | Esteban Gutierrez |
| Lotus | Pastor Maldonado | Romain Grosjean |
| Force India | Nico Hulkenberg | Sergio Perez |
| Caterham | Will Stevens | Kamui Kobayashi |
Mercedes Champion
Mercedes have been the far superior team to every other car on the grid for the entirety of the 2014 F1 season, so it is no surprise that one of their drivers will take the title.
Hamilton has had more race wins than Rosberg over the year—10 to his team-mate's five—but reliability issues for the Brit have kept the German in the mix.
Rosberg has the momentum with a fine win in Brazil last time out after Hamilton's spin, per the Telegraph's Daniel Johnson:
However, the destination of the title is somewhat out of his hands as he could take the win in Abu Dhabi and still be pipped to the championship.
Conversely, however, that puts much of the pressure on Hamilton to perform and not give Rosberg any opportunity, but the Stevenage-born driver says he is feeling no stress, per Andrew Benson of BBC Sport:
"I come into the weekend trying to win the race, like always. So nothing changes there. In terms of the pressure, I don't really feel anything. I have been racing for 20 years to prepare for it.
"
If Hamilton can complete the job on Sunday, it will be his second world title following his 2008 triumph which came down to the very last lap of the season, per Press Association (h/t the Independent).
In any normal year, Sunday would be a much simpler affair for Hamilton given his championship lead, but the controversial double-points award for Abu Dhabi has given the season closer a genuine edge. The only question that remains is whether Rosberg can take advantage.
Vettel's Red Bull Farewell
Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel will be competing in his final race for Red Bull on Sunday after Thursday's announcement that he will join Ferrari next season, per Sky Sports News HQ:
After four consecutive titles with Christian Horner's team from 2010, the German has endured a somewhat underwhelming season spent, not only in the Mercedes shadow but that of rookie team-mate Daniel Ricciardo.
The highest he can finish in this year's championship is fourth—his current position—though he will have to hold off Fernando Alonso and Valtteri Bottas who are two and three points further back respectively.
After dominating the sport so comprehensively for the past four years, Vettel has not won a race all season and is unlikely to win in Abu Dhabi, but he will no doubt be eager to put in a fine closing performance for his team.
For one of the other drivers lining up on Sunday on the starting grid, it will be an all-new experience as Will Stevens will be making his F1 debut in the Caterham.
The 23-year-old Brit is looking to stake a claim for a permanent spot on the grid in Abu Dhabi, per Sky Sports' Mike Wise, though he will not be mixing it with the likes of Hamilton and Rosberg.
That battle will be taking place at the front of the grid and could provide one of the all-time classic finishes to an F1 season with all still to play for in the desert.
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