Formula One teams arrive for Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ahead of thrilling title decider

All eyes will be on Hamilton and Verstappen in the 22nd and final race of the season

Staff from the Ferrari team inside the Yas Marina Circuit grounds ahead of the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Photo: Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management

Formula One safety cars are transported to Yas Marina Circuit. Photo: Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management

A forklift truck moves items in the Yas Marina Circuit paddock. Photo: Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management

Trucks transport team equipment on the Yas Marina Circuit. Photo: Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management

Preparations for the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix began long before the teams arrived. A painter uses a machine to paint the track in November ahead of the F1 season finale. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Preparations and clean up at the Yas Marina Circuit, ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Preparations and clean up took place last month to get the Yas Marina Circuit ready for the finale F1 race of the season. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A painter uses a paint machine to get the Yas Marina Circuit race ready. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Yas Marina Circuit saw some upgrades during preparations for the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

The 2021 Formula One season reaches its conclusion at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, and the teams have arrived at Yas Marina Circuit to begin preparations for the finale.

Sunday's race will stage one of the most thrilling world title deciders in F1 history as Mercedes' defending and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton goes head-to-head with Red Bull rival Max Verstappen, with both drivers level on 369.5 points.

There have been three other occasions that Abu Dhabi has hosted the title decider but for drama, tension, and unpredictability, 2021 promises to be the most exhilarating of them all.

Ahead of race weekend, starting with Friday's practice, all 10 teams have arrived in the capital, with the paddock buzzing with activity in anticipation of the 22nd and final race of the season.

Hamilton, 36, has won the past three races, most recently a thrilling and chaotic inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, so the advantage feels like it's with the British driver, but 24-year-old Verstappen knows how to win on the Yas Marina Circuit after the Dutchman took the chequered flag last year.