Tying up loose ends: It's Ferrari v Mercedes, and Leclerc v Perez in season finale

It seems like yesterday that the 2022 Formula 1 season got underway, and now we're at the final hurdle before the curtain draws to a close on an exhilarating season.

Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen weren't favourites for season's glory when we got underway, but they maximised opportunities and used every race as a stepping stone en route to both championships. It is the first time since 2013 that the team has won both the Drivers' and Constructors' titles.

Elsewhere, Mercedes-AMG started their year poorly with a car that was nowhere near any competitive level, but they upped the ante to enter the season's final race with what is, possibly, the second-quickest car on the grid.

And Ferrari? Well, the Italian team's season fizzled out spectacularly, leaving them on the edge of losing the second spot behind Red Bull in both championship races.

Here's how the battle for second could play out in Abu Dhabi.

Leclerc vs Perez

Charles Leclerc emerged as Ferrari's title challenger in 2022. The Monegasque quickly established a healthy points advantage over his on-track rivals, but poor decisions on the team's end, driver errors, and technical issues brought all his momentum to a halt.

With Verstappen having already sealed the gold, Leclerc's best save would be second in the Drivers' standings. The problem is that he is tied on 290 points with Verstappen's Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez.

Going into the race, Leclerc needs to outscore Perez by just one point to secure second in the standings. And if both drivers fail to score, Leclerc would still secure the position given his three wins this year to Perez's two.

Ferrari vs Mercedes

It's a case of two tales for Ferrari and Mercedes. The Reds regressed in 2022, while the Silver Arrows are the