Formula 1, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix preview, 26 November 2023

SuperSport, the biggest sports broadcaster in Africa, brings viewers on DStv the 22nd and final round of the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, held at the Yas Marina Circuit on the afternoon of Sunday 26 November.

DStv is your ultimate destination for motorsport fans, while DStv Stream allows viewers to watch their favourite sport live anywhere, any time.

The previous round in Las Vegas saw Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen claim an 18th win of the season, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc claimed second and Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez was third.

Verstappen's triumph arrived despite the Dutchman being hit with a five-second penalty for forcing Leclerc off at the first corner, as well as a seeming lack of affection for the 'Sin City' event.

"Of course the show element is important but I lack emotion," said Verstappen. "For me when I was a little kid it was about the emotion of the sport, that’s what I fell in love with and not the show around it. As a real racer, I think that shouldn’t really matter.

“A racing car on a street circuit anyway doesn’t really come alive. It’s not that exciting. I think it’s more about proper race tracks. When you go to Spa, Monza, these kinds of places they have a lot of emotion and passion. For me, seeing the fans there is incredible. And for me as well, when I jump in the car I’m fired up and I love driving around these kind of places.

“Of course I understand the fans maybe need something to do as well around the track, but I think it’s more important that you make them understand what we do as a sport, because most of them just come to have a party, drink, see a DJ play or a performance act."

With the top three places in the drivers' championship assigned to Verstappen, Perez and Lewis Hamilton, the interest falls on who will finish fourth, with just 12 points separating Carlos Sainz (Ferrari, 200), Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin, 200), Lando Norris (McLaren, 195) and Leclerc (Ferrari, 188).

Sainz will be looking to bounce back after a frustrating weekend in which he was unfairly penalised for damage suffered to his car after hitting a loose drain cover.

"There was clearly a safety issue at the track,” Sainz explained. “That issue destroyed my car. My mechanics had to invest five hours in putting together a completely new car. On top of that we get a 10-place grid penalty for something that we have nothing to do for. I’m just simply disappointed. At the same time, I’m not surprised, because there’s been many cases this year that I think the sport has proven that it can do things a lot better."

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Abu Dhabi Grand Prix broadcast details, 24-26 November 2023

All times CAT

Friday 24 November

11:25: Free Practice 1 – LIVE on SuperSport Motorsport and SuperSport Maximo 1

14:45: Free Practice 2 – LIVE on SuperSport Motorsport and SuperSport Maximo 1

Saturday 25 November

12:15: Free Practice 3 – LIVE on SuperSport Motorsport and SuperSport Maximo 1

15:50: Qualifying – LIVE on SuperSport Motorsport and SuperSport Maximo 1

Sunday 26 November

14:55: Grand Prix – LIVE on SuperSport Motorsport and SuperSport Maximo 1