The 2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (formally known as the Formula 1 2018 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held on 25 November 2018 at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The race was the twenty-first and final round of the 2018 Formula One World Championship and marked the tenth running of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as a World Championship event since the inaugural event in 2009.
The race was the last to be officiated by Charlie Whiting as race director, as he died shortly before the 2019 season opener. It was also notable for being the final Grand Prix for two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso until his return to the sport in 2021. Lewis Hamilton's victory marked the first time a driver surpassed 400 points in a single championship season.
McLaren campaigned a special one-off livery to celebrate the final race of Fernando Alonso before his three-year hiatus from the sport. The design featured the blue, yellow, and red of the Asturian flag on the engine cover and cockpit sides. This marked the first time McLaren had run a unique driver-dedicated livery since the 1986 Portuguese Grand Prix, where Keke Rosberg's car featured yellow branding. Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson attended the event as a guest of McLaren, following the announcement of a high-profile "car swap" promotional event with Alonso scheduled for the day after the race.
Prior to the race, Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes had already secured both the World Drivers' and World Constructors' Championship titles. Hamilton clinched his fifth title at the 2018 Mexican Grand Prix, while Mercedes secured their fifth consecutive title at the 2018 Brazilian Grand Prix. Coming into the finale, the primary focus remained on the battle for third in the Drivers' standings between Kimi Räikkönen, Valtteri Bottas, and Max Verstappen.
Max Verstappen led the opening session for Red Bull Racing, while Valtteri Bottas topped the second session under the floodlights. Lewis Hamilton led the final practice session on Saturday morning.
Lewis Hamilton claimed his 83rd career pole position with a track record time of 1:34.794. He was joined on the front row by teammate Valtteri Bottas, marking a front-row lockout for Mercedes. The Ferrari duo of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Räikkönen followed in third and fourth, while the Red Bulls of Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen occupied the third row.
At the start, Hamilton maintained his lead into the first corner. On the opening lap, a heavy collision occurred between Nico Hülkenberg and Romain Grosjean at Turn 9. Hülkenberg's Renault was launched into a series of barrel rolls before coming to rest upside-down against the tyre barriers. The incident triggered a safety car. Hamilton took an early pit stop under a Virtual Safety Car on Lap 7 following Kimi Räikkönen's mechanical retirement, a strategy that eventually allowed him to maintain the lead despite pressure from Vettel later in the race. Hamilton won the race, becoming the first driver to exceed 400 points in a single season.
During the cool-down lap, Hamilton and Vettel escorted Alonso to the start-finish straight where the three champions performed synchronized doughnuts for the crowd. On the podium, Hamilton removed the top of his race suit to display the "Still I Rise" tattoo on his back, stating he wanted to use the moment to inspire others by showcasing his personal motto.
The following Monday, Alonso and Jimmie Johnson met at the Bahrain International Circuit for a car swap. Johnson drove a V8-powered 2013 McLaren MP4-28, while Alonso drove Johnson's No. 48 Chevrolet SS NASCAR Cup car.
Lewis Hamilton's pole position time of 1:34.794 set a new lap record for the Yas Marina Circuit.
The race was notable for the retirement of several veteran drivers, including Kimi Räikkönen, whose mechanical failure on Lap 6 triggered a Virtual Safety Car period that fundamentally shifted the leading strategies.
Following the Grand Prix, teams remained at the Yas Marina Circuit for a two-day post-season tyre test on 27âÂÂ28 November. This session was notable for several high-profile driver transitions ahead of the 2019 season. Charles Leclerc made his debut as an official Scuderia Ferrari driver, setting the fastest time of the test with a 1:36.450. Kimi Räikkönen drove for Sauber for the first time since 2001, while Lance Stroll made his first appearance for Racing Point Force India following his move from Williams.
The race also marked a statistical milestone for Lewis Hamilton, who became the first driver in Formula One history to surpass 400 points in a single season (finishing with 408). Additionally, the event saw the final race for the Force India name, as the team was rebranded to Racing Point for 2019, and the final race for Sauber before being rebranded as Alfa Romeo Racing. The race weekend saw a record three-day attendance of approximately 135,000 spectators.