Sunday’s race at Abu Dhabi not only marks the end of the Formula One season, but is also a watershed moment, with a changing of the guard set to take place in 2021.
Sebastian Vettel will compete in his last race for Ferrari after a six year stay which, by his own admission, has been a relative failure. He joined the team in 2014 as a four-time world champion but his ambition to emulate the achievement of compatriot Michael Schumacher and win further titles in the red livery of the Italian team remains unfulfilled.
He had the misfortune in that period to be up against one of the strongest driver/team combinations of all-time in the shape of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes, but arguably, Ferrari had the better car in both 2017 and 2018. However, errors by both the team and Vettel himself handed the title in both years to the Englishman.
Next year Vettel will drive for Racing Point, who are rebranding as Aston Martin. He will take the place of Sergio Prez, who won his maiden Grand Prix last weekend, but still does not have a seat for next year.
Joining Ferrari to partner Charles Leclerc will be Carlos Sainz, with Daniel Ricciardo moving from Renault to take his place. The French team are also rebranding next year under the name of their sportscar brand Alpine, and are welcoming back to the sport three-time former world champion Fernando Alonso after a two-year absence,
Meanwhile it will be the last race in Formula One for Kevin Magnusson, with the Dane leaving the Haas team after they decided not to renew his contract. He is set to race in Indy cars in America next year.
The other contracted Haas driver has already taken place in his last race, with doctors deciding that he had not recovered sufficiently from the burns he incurred n the Bahrain Grand Prix to take part this weekend.
And, to round things off, it may also be Daniil Kvyats last race for Alpha Tauri, with rumours suggesting he is set to be replaced by Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda next year.
