Race to Abu Dhabi F1 2021: How Hamilton and Verstappen have arrived at Yas neck and neck

Both are on 369.5 points but Verstappen leads in race wins 9-8 ahead of season finale

Red Bull's Max Verstappen, left, and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton head into Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix level on points at the top of the drivers' standings. PA

The 2021 Formula One drivers' title will be decided at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull's Max Verstappen head into the season finale level on 369.5 points with it all to play for at Yas Marina Circuit.

Verstappen will start on pole, with Hamilton second as the heavyweights of the sport clash for the final time this season.

Here's a look at how each driver fared in the 21 races leading up to Abu Dhabi.

Round 1 - Bahrain Grand Prix

Race: Verstappen hunts down Hamilton and overtakes with four laps to go only to overshoot track limits and have to give the place back. A second misjudgement in how he hands back the lead rules out a counterattack and ice cool Hamilton opens the season with a win. Verstappen is second, left to rue what might have been.

Points: Hamilton 7 ahead of Verstappen

Round 2 - Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

Race: Decisive overtaking move on Hamilton at Turn 1 earns Verstappen victory as the world champion later slides off but finishes second.

Points: Hamilton +1

Round 3 - Portugal Grand Prix

Race: Inspired tactical victory by Hamilton at his mystical ‘tyre whisper’ best. Verstappen second.

Points: Hamilton +8

Round 4 - Spanish Grand Prix

Race: Points summit of Hamilton’s season with third win in four races takes him 14 points clear. Will this be another year of Mercedes domination? Verstappen second again.

Points: Hamilton +14

Round 5 - Monaco Grand Prix

Race: Verstappen wins to lead a title race for first time in his career. It is the first time in three years Mercedes have not led either championship.

Points: Verstappen +4 ahead

Mercedes' driver Valtteri Bottas during the second practice session for the Monaco Grand Prix on Thursday. AFP

Lando Norris of McLaren during practice ahead for the Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo. Getty

Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes during practice in Monaco. Getty

Mercedes' driver Lewis Hamilton during the second practice session on Thursday. AFP

Ferrari's driver Charles Leclerc at the Monaco street circuit. AFP

Max Verstappen of Red Bull in the garage on Thursday. Getty

Max Verstappen prepares for practice in Monaco. Getty

Sergio Perez during practice in Monaco. Getty

Round 6 - Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Race: Verstappen’s tyre blows while leading, Hamilton fumbles gear shift to hand surprise victory to Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez.

Points: Verstappen +4

Round 7 - French Grand Prix

Race: Strategic triumph as Verstappen overtakes Hamilton on the penultimate lap to end Mercedes’ domination of Paul Ricard.

Points: Verstappen +12

Rounds 8/9 - Styria and Austria

Races: Back-to-back victories for Verstappen on Red Bull’s home track gives him a massive 32 points lead in title race. Hamilton second and fourth.

Points: Styria, Verstappen +18; Austria, Verstappen +32

Round 10 - British Grand Prix

Race: Verstappen wins Saturday's sprint race. Hamilton crashes Verstappen off (and into hospital) on Sunday and wins his home race despite a steward’s time penalty punishment.

Points: Verstappen +8

Aston Martin's Sebastian Vettel, Alpine's Esteban Ocon and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton celebrate on the podium after the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring on Sunday, August 1, 2021.

Second placed Sebastian Vettel of Aston Martin celebrates with his team in parc ferme after the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Esteban Ocon of Alpine F1 Team celebrates winning the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Race winner Esteban Ocon at Hungaroring.

Second placed Sebastian Vettel of Aston Martin, first placed Esteban Ocon of Alpine and third placed Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes on the podium after the race.

Pierre Gasly of AlphaTauri and Sebastian Vettel of Aston Martin at Hungaroring.

Race winner Esteban Ocon at Hungaroring.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen steers his car during the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Mercedes' driver Lewis Hamilton finished third on Sunday.

Round 11 - Hungarian Grand Prix

Race: Hamilton’s teammate, Valtteri Bottas, triggers a crash which ends Verstappen’s day at the first corner. Hamilton’s second place is enough to lead the title race once again in a 40-point swing over two grands prix.

Points: Hamilton +8

Round 12 - Belgium Grand Prix

Race: Verstappen returns from the summer break to win a farcical, two lap, rain-lashed abandoned ‘race’. Hamilton third.

Points: Hamilton +3

Round 13 - Dutch Grand Prix

Race: Verstappen wins his home race - the first Dutch GP for 36 years - to take to the front of the championship yet again, this time by just three points as the momentum swings back to Red Bull.

Points: Verstappen +3

Round 14 - Italian Grand Prix

Race: Hamilton and Verstappen crash out together vying for the lead at Turn 1. Red Bull car beached on top the Mercedes. Daniel Ricciardo wins.

Points: Verstappen +5

Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing collides with Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, left, during the Italian Grand Prix in Monza on Sunday, September 12, 2021. EPA

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton crashes with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen during the Italian Formula One Grand Prix in Monza on Sunday. AP

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton after crashing out of the race with Red Bull's Max Verstappen. Reuters

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton crashes out of the race on Sunday. Reuters

Mercedes' driver Lewis Hamilton gets out of his car following a collision with Red Bull's driver Max Verstappen in Monza. AFP

Lewis Hamilton collides with Red Bull's driver Max Verstappen. AFP

Mercedes' driver Lewis Hamilton following a collision with Red Bull's driver Max Verstappen. AFP

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton after their crash in Monza. Getty

Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton crash out of the race. Reuters

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton crash out of the race. Reuters

Round 15 - Russian Grand Prix

Race: Hamilton scores a brilliant record 100th victory in changing conditions. Verstappen second.

Points: Hamilton +2

Round 16 - Turkish Grand Prix

Race: Hamilton’s engine change grid penalty hands victory to teammate Bottas, with Verstappen second and the world champion fifth.

Points: Verstappen +6

Round 17 - United States Grand Prix

Race: Bastion of Hamilton success surprisingly falls to Verstappen after a spectacular drive.

Points: Verstappen +12

Round 18 - Mexican Grand Prix

Race: Verstappen roars from third on the grid, behind both Mercedes, to win and take a 19-point lead with four rounds remaining. Hamilton second.

Points: Verstappen +19

Round 19 - Brazilian Grand Prix

Race: Hamilton wins from the back of the grid after Mercedes penalised for an illegal rear wing, overtaking Verstappen in the final stages. Both go off at Turn 4 battling for the lead but escape punishment. Verstappen lead 14 points.

Points: Verstappen +14

Round 20 - Qatar Grand Prix

Race: Dominant victory by Hamilton from pole as Verstappen minimises damage in second having started seventh thanks to a penalty for ignoring yellow flags. Hamilton cuts Verstappen’s lead to eight points.

Points: Verstappen +8

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, with second placed Red Bull's Max Verstappen in the background, on Sunday, December 5, 2021. AP

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton compete in the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday, December 5. AFP

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton tussle for the lead. Getty

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton compete for the lead. AP

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton during the race. Getty

Drivers take the start of the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah on December 5, 2021. AFP

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton leads at the start of the race. AFP

Jets release smoke as they perform an air display over the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. AFP

Jets release smoke as they perform an air display over the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. AFP

A jets performs during an air display over the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. AFP

Jets perform an air display over the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah. AFP

Jets perform an air display over the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah. AFP

Drivers and team members pay tribute to the late founder and former team principal of Williams Racing, Frank Williams who died a week before the race. AFP

Lewis Hamilton looks at the trophy prior to the start of the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. AP

Red Bull's Max Verstappen before the race. Reuters

Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr before the race. Reuters

Drivers stand and take a knee on the starting grid prior to the race. AFP

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas and Red Bull's Max Verstappen. AFP

Drivers race during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Street Circuit. AP

Mechanics work on the car of McLaren driver Lando Norris in the pits. AFP

Alpha Tauri driver Pierre Gasly during the race. AFP

Mick Schumacher's Haas after crashing. Getty

Haas driver Mick Schumacher after crashing. Getty

Alpine driver Esteban Ocon competes in the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. AFP

Race marshals remove the car of Williams driver George Russell after a crash. AFP

A race marshal assists Haas driver Mick Schumacher after his crash. AFP

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen speaks with team members during a second stop in the race. AFP

Lewis Hamilton speaks with team members during a second stop in the race. AFP

Red Bull driver Sergio Perez leaves his car after a collision. AFP

Sergio Perez after crashing. AFP

Round 21 - Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Race: Dramatic race won by Hamilton after title rivals collide twice in one of the most dramatic races of modern times. Verstappen a battling second. Aided by his ‘spicey’ super-fast engine Hamilton ties down fastest lap despite a damaged car to level the championship after 21 races.

Points: Level

Round 22 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Hamilton and Verstappen go to the final round tied on points the first time that has happened between championship contenders since 1974.