Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021 start time: F1 practice, qualifying, race schedule on TV

The pair are expected to duel throughout the race at a circuit that has undergone plenty of changes to promote greater overtaking opportunities. Red Bull superstar Verstappen – in the hunt for his first world title – will be determined to make the most of his opportunity to seize glory against Mercedes' seven-time world champion Hamilton.

• Watch the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix live on Sky Sports F1

Tensions erupted last weekend at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as the pair made contact once again amid a backdrop of two red flags, multiple safety cars and a string of major, real-time calls from the stewards throughout the race.

The atmosphere going into this final race could not be more highly charged, the drama could not be more intense, the prize could not be greater. Buckle up.

And what's more, the whole race will be shown live on free-to-air TV after a deal was struck between Sky Sports and Channel 4 to showcase the big race for all the nation to see it.

RadioTimes.com brings you the complete guide to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021 including start time, dates and TV details, as well as exclusive analysis from Sky Sports F1 commentator Crofty.

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Abu Dhabi Grand Prix date

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix takes place on Sunday 12th December 2021.

Check out our full F1 2021 calendar for the full list of results throughout the 2021 season.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix start time

The race begins at 1pm on Sunday 12th December 2021.

We've included the full schedule for the rest of the weekend, including practice and qualifying times below.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix schedule

Friday 10th December

From 9am on Sky Sports F1

Practice 1 – 9:30am

Practice 2 – 1pm

Saturday 11th December

From 9:45am on Sky Sports F1

Practice 3 – 10am

Qualifying – 1pm

Sunday 12th December

From 11:30am on Sky Sports F1 / From midday on Channel 4

Race – 1pm

How to watch Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on TV

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will air live on Sky Sports F1 from 12:15pm.

All races have been shown live on Sky Sports F1 and Main Event throughout the season.

Sky customers can add individual channels for just £18 per month or add the complete sports package to their deal for just £25 per month.

• Find out more about the best Sky packages

The race will also be shown live on Channel 4 after a deal was struck between the broadcaster and Sky to show the race live on free-to-air TV.

Channel 4 will be using Sky Sports' coverage of the event, so whichever channel you choose to use, the Sky F1 team will be there to bring you every moment of the drama.

The Channel 4 F1 team led by Steve Jones will be on hand from midday with 15 minutes of live build-up before handing over to the Sky team. They will return after the podium ceremony for instant reaction on Channel 4.

Live stream Abu Dhabi Grand Prix online

Existing Sky Sports customers can live stream the race via the Sky Go app on a variety of devices.

You can watch the Grand Prix with a NOW Day Membership for £9.99 or a Monthly Membership for £33.99, all without signing up to a contract.

NOW can be streamed through a computer or apps found on most smart TVs, phones and consoles. NOW is also available via BT Sport.

You can also tune in to Channel 4 via their online platform All 4.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix preview

Exclusive chat with Sky Sports F1 commentator David "Crofty" Croft.

How exciting and significant is the upcoming Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?

DC: People are getting switched on to Formula 1. Everyone is a winner this season because Formula 1 is no longer the best kept secret out there. It's a wonderful, glorious sport, that more and more people are switched on to.

I've said quite consistently, I think it'll go down to the wire. I wouldn't like for one second to imagine how Max Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton are feeling. I hope that between Jeddah and Abu Dhabi they found some time to be where they want to be, relaxing or preparing in the way they want to prepare, getting away from the constant speculation and getting their heads straight for what is going to be a very intense weekend and a very intense Grand Prix.

I want them to be at the top of their game on Sunday because they've been at the top of their game all season long. They've given us an absolute treat. Is it wrong to ask for more? I feel like Oliver Twist. It's nearly Christmas. Please can we have some more!

Lewis Hamilton has been champion since the 2017 Mexican Grand Prix. On race day in Abu Dhabi, just before 'lights out' he will have been world champion for 1506 days. He is not going to give that up lightly.

Max Verstappen has been dreaming of this moment for his entire life. He is not going to give up the lead that he has held in the championship for the majority of this season lightly.

He has led the championship after 14 of the last 17 rounds. He's going to cling on to that and do all he can to become champion. This is intense. It's highly emotive. It is everything we want in our top class sport. I feel lucky and privileged to be able to be standing in the commentary box alongside Martin Brundle giving what we hope will be the best commentary of our lives on Sky Sports F1.

All Max Verstappen needs to do... is crash into Lewis Hamilton. Will he?

DC: The stewards need to get tough if that's going to happen. I wouldn't presume to tell the students how to run the weekend but I would hope that the drivers are made aware of what will happen should any shenanigans play out. We have seen titles decided before with first-corner incidents, I don't want us to see that on Sunday. Nobody really wants to see that on Sunday. It would give us more to talk about on Monday, I'm sure, but I don't want to see that.

I want to see these two go wheel-to-wheel and not banging into each other. The stewards need to get tough this weekend, but when I say tough, I mean firm but fair and say: 'If we feel one of you has deliberately crashed into the other to your own gain, then that will not be a net gain and we will dish out the appropriate punishment.' That, to me, can only be right. It is time for fairness, not time for giving the benefit of the doubt.

And yes, Max just needs to crash into Lewis but I don't think he wants to just crash. That's not how he wants to win a world title. I know Max Verstappen, he might attract controversy from time to time, but he doesn't want to win a world title by crashing into someone. Nobody wants to win a world title by crashing into someone.

Tell us about the track

DC: We have three more laps this year, the track length has been reduced, it has been modified in certain areas, it needed modifying in certain areas. It is a magnificent facility but an awful track for modern day Formula 1 if you want to see overtaking, and modifications needed to be made. In the last two years, Lewis then Max have led this race from start to finish from pole position.

The pole-sitter has won the last six races here, and the drivers starting 1-2-3 have finished in the same order four times in the last six years including the last two times. It needed changing, changes have been made, I keep my fingers crossed that they are changes for the good because I want to see a track where both Lewis and Max can get at each other in terms of overtaking and try to win this title.

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