AUTOhebdo predictions: who is in the game in Yas Marina?

What's good about Formula 1, and sport in general, is that it retains this unpredictable nature and this power to surprise us at any moment. 

take our results from Friday's free practice at Yas Marina, our insurance to see the stable Mercedes lock the 1st row of the starting grid for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as she had done without interruption between 2014 and 2019. Well, we had stuck our finger in the eye, and up to the elbow! 

Because at Red Bull, there is one who knows how to handle the hoop and is not there to amuse the gallery. When we think that Max Verstappen won only his 3rd career pole position this Saturday evening (the Dutchman will tell you 4th because he counts that of Mexico in 2019 despite a penalty of 3 places on the grid)... which shows the domination of the Mercedes at the hybrid era!

• Will Verstappen convert the try?

Author of the best time in Free Practice 1 and 3, the Red Bull driver had disseminated some clues before qualifying. Evidence that we had not considered at its true value, convinced that we were seeing the Mercedes drivers throw all their forces into the battle at the opportune moment as they always do. 

Except that the Oranje artist played his best part in the final moments of Q3 and offered himself a start with a clear view on Sunday evening. Verstappen will also start with the same Medium compound as his rivals from Brackley (United Kingdom). Both camps therefore start on an equal footing with regard to tire strategy, so that the Red Bull driver has a very good card to play. 

In his quest for a second victory in 2, now rated at 2020*, Verstappen will probably have to fend for himself, barring a great takeoff from his teammate Alexander albon, who will start 5th on Soft tires. The Flying Dutchman has already proven several times that he does not need anyone to win. 

• Bottas ou Hamilton as a main rival?

In the Mercedes clan, who will represent the biggest threat to the Red Bull driver? There was only a 61 thousandths difference between Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton at the end of Q3, which can be interpreted in several ways. 

Still, the Finn did not really shine when the lights went out in the last GPs, while his seven-time world champion teammate admitted not feeling 100% after his rapid return to competition in the wake of a particularly painful Covid-19 infection. 

Will Hamilton be able to keep up the pace during the 55 laps of the final race of the season? The Briton is perhaps never as strong as when his back is against the wall. 

A third victory for Bottas this season is offered at odds of 3* compared to 3,5* for a 2,2th victory for his teammate in 12. 

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix traditionally reserves few surprises, but after an intense season and with a 17th race in 24 weeks looming, the fatigue of both men and machines could add a grain of sand to the workings of certain teams .

Find all possible odds and betting combinations on the Parions Sport website. 

*Odds may vary before departure