Last drinks

Four-time Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel will race for Red Bull for the last time in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend, ahead of his expected move to Ferrari next season.

An erroneous headline caused a social media stir on Wednesday, after German news agency dpa said that the driver would definitely be heading to Ferrari next season. A short time later the agency retracted the story, saying it had been based on a fake Twitter account.

In the real world, Vettel himself remains focused on stealing some of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg's limelight in Abu Dhabi, with his current team, Red Bull.

"Of course it will be an emotional weekend as we have great memories together, but I'll enjoy the weekend with the team and with a bit of luck maybe we'll get a final podium," Vettel said.

After several years within the Red Bull organization, including time at the feeder Toro Rosso team, 27-year-old Vettel is preparing to suit up for a rival from the start of the 2015 season. It is widely expected he will join Italian team Ferrari, though this is not yet officially confirmed.

Concluding his time with Red Bull on the Yas Marina track is particularly significant for Vettel, he says, as it was here that he won his first world title four years ago.

"I personally have very special memories of the Abu Dhabi circuit and race; it was here in 2010 that I became world champion for the first time in my favorite F1 car, the RB6," he said.

Hamilton and Rosberg ready for battle

At the top of the Formula One drivers' championship - miles ahead of Vettel - Briton Lewis Hamilton leads German driver Nico Rosberg by just 17 points going into the final race, in Abu Dhabi.

With double points on offer this weekend, Rosberg, who has been trailing his Mercedes teammate Hamilton for weeks now in the championship, still has a chance. Hamilton will clinch his second F1 title if he wins or finishes second to Rosberg at the Yas Marina circuit on Sunday. If Rosberg wins and Hamilton places third or lower, Rosberg will become the champ.

"I believe I still have a chance to win the drivers' championship in Abu Dhabi," the 29-year-old German said this week. He has admitted as well that he finds the double points on the final race "a bit artificial."

Nico Rosberg certainly seems to have momentum on his side though. The 29-year-old German won the last Grand Prix earlier this month in Sao Paulo, just ahead of his rival Hamilton.

With the two lead drivers in the competition, the constructors' championship has already been won by Mercedes. The normally strong Red Bull team is nearly 300 points off the pace in second position.

al/mz (dpa, Reuters, SID)

Join DW reporter Jefferson Chase online on Sunday for live coverage of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at www.dw.de/sports.