F1 Abu Dhabi GP strategy forecast faces change after crucial findings
The strategy estimations for the F1 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix face a potential revamp.
"I think before the event it was a clear one stop and now let's see."- Alexander Albon.
The race at the Yas Marina Circuit in previous years has seen a mixed strategic outlook, with the race in 2022's pit stop sequences being split by almost half og the grid, whereas in 2023 the vast majority of the teams chose to put their drivers on a two stopper.
However, given Pirelli's consistent improvements on the construction and the mechanical aspects of the tyres, which affect durability, the race saw a decline in the number of pit stops during last year's edition, with most drivers being able to complete the race on only one stop.
For this year, it was expected that the race would be a certain one-stopper, given the progression Pirelli's compounds have made across the F1 2025 campaign.
However, Williams drivers Alexander Albon and Carlos Sainz, have warned that the estimations might have been off the mark.
"I think we are like a little bit of fire extinguisher, [putting out] little fires everywhere," Albon told F1TV, describing the Grove-based team's outlook after Friday's running. "But honestly not a bad day. Obviously we did the one session [Williams' young talent Luke Browning took over Albon's car in FP1 in Abu Dhabi]."
An 'interesting' Sunday ahead for the F1 grid
Albon then stated tha he thought all the teams were blindsided by the higher than expected tyre degradation experienced during Friday.
"The car feels reasonably good," Albon continued. "[Tyre] degradation is high, much higher than I think we all expected, so it all makes Sunday interesting and I think before the event it was a clear one stop and now let's see."
What the root cause of the is, Albon is not yet sure of, but the front tyres remain a cause for concern heading into the Grand Prix. "[The] track's quite green and they resurfaced a fair bit of it. Not sure if that's a contributing factor to it.
"But yeah, it's strange. I think there is a lot of grip out there, but the fronts are just sliding a lot and you see everyone's grading the front tyre.
"It'll get better as the track grips up, but for now it's a difficult race," Albon added.
Sainz confirms Albon's tyre degradation concerns
The Spaniard who finished FP1 in P9 and FP2 down P13 also spotted the issue. "Very high deg," he told F1TV. "I think the degradation has surprised a bit everyone because the last few years here it's been a one stop.
"[It] probably will be still a one stop or it will be close to it, but the front tyres and the degradation was much higher than I think what everyone expected," Sainz concluded.
Norris and Piastri informed of McLaren's intentions for Abu Dhabi
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has said the team will allow Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to race freely as long as both remain in title contention, with Norris currently 12 points ahead of Max Verstappen and 16 ahead of Piastri. However, this situation is subject to change. Read Brown's comments here.
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