ABU DHABI: Max Verstappen may have clinched his fourth consecutive drivers title a few weeks ago, but as Abu Dhabi prepares to host the finale of Formula 1鈥檚 longest season yet, two teams are still in with chance of winning the World Constructors鈥� Championship.

In the driver and team championships, the 2024 F1 season ended being far more gripping than the early races of the campaign had suggested as the Dutchman and Red Bull went about obliterating their rivals.

Saif Al-Noaimi, CEO of Ethara, organizers of the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, was at Yas Marina Circuit when Formula 1 witnessed arguably its greatest championship finale. Verstappen鈥檚 last lap overtake of Lewis Hamilton three years ago has become known among fans, simply, as 鈥滱bu Dhabi 21.鈥�

He believes a renewed sense of competitiveness after a few years of complete Red Bull dominance, is welcome.

鈥淚t has been a very exciting season,鈥� Al-Noaimi said. 鈥淢ax Verstappen dominated the first half, but then (McLaren鈥檚) Lando Norris, and even Oscar Piastri, and the two Ferraris caught up quite a bit in the second half. Brazil was a surprise. Max really dominated in that race and delivered an amazing result.鈥�

Three weeks later, Verstappen won his fourth consecutive World Drivers鈥� Championship after a fifth-place finish in the Las Vegas Grand Prix. 

鈥淏ut it is also exciting to see the fight for the Constructors' Championship,鈥� Al-Noaimi said. 鈥淢cLaren leading, they haven鈥檛 won since 1998, Ferrari in second, they haven鈥檛 won it since 2008. So they鈥檙e going to be fighting really hard to finish on top.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long season. This is the longest in history, Abu Dhabi will be the 24th race.鈥�

Al-Noaimi is impressed by the changes that teams have made throughout the season that have allowed for this thrilling end.

鈥淚t鈥檚 showing the evolution of the cars from the beginning of the season and how teams are quickly catching up towards the second half of the season. So it鈥檚 good to see that innovation, and how quickly some of the teams have been able to catch up in the second half of the season 鈥� 2025 is going to be an interesting one. And obviously 2026, with the new rules, is going to shuffle all the cards.

鈥淵ou have some exciting developments with Adrian Newey鈥檚 move (to Aston Martin). We have Hamilton ending his Mercedes era in Abu Dhabi this year, next year going to Ferrari. So there鈥檙e a lot of moving parts, exciting things.鈥�

Al-Noaimi also highlighted the fact four rookies will be introduced to the grid next season, a development that means there are no seats for more seasoned drivers such as Mick Schumacher and the popular Daniel Ricciardo.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a very competitive sport,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou have a chance to get it right and deliver and you have, in some cases, a few races to prove yourself, otherwise, you鈥檙e moved on. I mean, Daniel Ricciardo is an amazing driver, amazing personality. I think he did so much for the sport, he brought in completely new audiences. It鈥檚 unfortunate to see him being dropped in the middle of a season and not towards the end of the season. But he had to make way for someone else to be given an opportunity.鈥�

For Al-Noaimi, preparations for the season-ending events started months ago, and it is not just the Formula 1 action that he has to oversee, but all events throughout Abu Dhabi GP race week.

鈥淚t鈥檚 actually a full week of activities this year. On the ground, some new products that we鈥檙e launching, some innovation in the overall experience for our customers. We have redeveloped the Paddock Club this year.鈥�

The changes to the Paddock Club include a completely upgraded rooftop, allowing 360-degree views of the track; an increased capacity;  and a totally new premium customer journey.

These developments come on the back of host of additions last year, such as new viewing platforms Deck on 2, Horizon 360 and Trackside Terrace. This year there is the new Garden on Yas at the W Hotel.

Demand for tickets, Al-Noaimi said, continues, both among tourists and UAE residents.

鈥淲e actually sold out of many products as early as June, including circuit grandstands, and that鈥檚 six months before the event.

鈥淪ince then, we鈥檝e tried to find new ways for people to come and enjoy the action. We didn鈥檛 want them to get disappointed, so we had one-day tickets come up in that period. But demand is unprecedented.鈥�

鈥淟ast year, we had 170,000 attendees over the weekend, about 70 percent coming from outside the UAE,鈥� he added. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 huge for supporting Abu Dhabi鈥檚 tourism strategy. And this year we expect similar or larger attendance numbers.鈥�

Another aspect of the event that Al-Noaimi is proud of is the sustainability across the entire weekend.

鈥淪ustainability is essential in our planning for the event. When we鈥檙e starting to plan for the event early on, we always view it from a sustainability lens.

鈥淟ast year was the biggest year we鈥檝e had in terms of the footprint of the event and the scale of the event and the number of attendees. However, we had a reduction in our carbon footprint despite that significantly larger event. And that鈥檚 a result of all the different sustainability initiatives we鈥檝e had over the last few years starting to show results.鈥�

While the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix remains the crown jewel of Ethara鈥檚 calendar, and one of the biggest sporting weekends in the region, Abu Dhabi has become home to several other global events in recent years.

鈥淩ight now our flagship events are Formula 1, NBA Games and UFC,鈥� Al-Noaimi said. 鈥淎nd then, expanding on the partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism, we were involved last year with delivering Abu Dhabi Art, which took place over a few months across multiple locations in Abu Dhabi. This year, we are also involved in the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial with the Department of Culture and Tourism.鈥�

For those visiting from abroad, the F1 ticket comes with a lot of benefits, Al-Noaimi said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 truly a full week of activities for an Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket holder. On Wednesday, you can upgrade and get a ticket to the World Supercross at Etihad Arena. Throughout that period, you have access, with 鈥榊as All In鈥� pass, to one of the amazing theme parks we have on Yas Island, access to the Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island, access to Qasr Al-Watan in Abu Dhabi, as well as a few other tourist destinations.鈥�

But there is little doubt where all eyes will be this weekend, at Yas Marina Circuit.

鈥淔rom Thursday, you have the pitlane walk, you have the first of the Yasalam after-race concerts happening in Etihad Park. And then you have the entire activities. Obviously the Formula 1 race, but also the support races, Formula 2, we have a Formula 4 Middle East Trophy Round, and Formula 1 Academy for the first time coming to Abu Dhabi as well.鈥�

In two of these support races young local drivers will take to the track.

鈥淲e鈥檙e fortunate to have three Emiratis racing at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend in front of the same crowd that鈥檚 here to watch the Formula One,鈥� said Al-Noaimi. 鈥淎mna and Hamda (Al-Qubaisi) are participating at the highest level of the F1 Academy. It鈥檚 the first time we bring that to Abu Dhabi. So it鈥檚 a proud moment for us to see them race in front of their home crowds.

鈥淩ashid Al-Dhaheri returns for the F4 Trophy Round as well. He just stepped up to Formula Regional. He鈥檚 performing extremely well. Last season he took part in Formula 4 UAE. He also did Formula 4 Italy. And he鈥檚 participating in a few rounds in Europe and Southeast Asia. He's been doing amazingly well.鈥�