Potential problems for Mercedes? They've lifted the side pod up of Hamilton's car on the grid...

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Fernando Alonso is speaking to Sky Sports on the grid about how he will approach his final F1 race.

"I will try to take care a little more," he says. "I would like not to have a stupid accident in the first couple of corners. I will be cautious, but not too much!"

But is this goodbye for good or just for now? Or to put it another way: If you got to do this race again, would you, my friend, Fernando? "It's a goodbye for now," he says.

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Not in a car though, but I would like to see that.

McLaren are getting into the spirit of #GraciasFernando.

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Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Abu Dhabi

Alonso suffers a tyre failure in qualifying, which rips off a load of rear bodywork. But with the damaged car, he not only sets fifth fastest time, and comfortably beats team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella, but, fuel-corrected, the lap is actually fast enough for pole position. “We measured the downforce he’d lost,” says Renault sporting director Alan Permane, “calculated what that should have translated to in lap time and he lost nowhere near that. It’s like he sort of refuses to accept it.”

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We're losing four drivers in total, but may see two of them from time to time since they've been confirmed as reserve drivers.

Sergey Sirotkin, and Stoffel Vandoorne are leaving the Formula 1 grid, but if you miss Vandoorne then you can find him in the Formula E paddock.

Sirotkin only has one point to show from the entire season, while Vandoorne has a few more (26), but he's been driving since 2016.

Marcus Ericsson will be driving in IndyCar with Alonso, but he's also a reserve driver for Sauber, and Esteban Ocon has now been confirmed by Mercedes as their reserve drivers.

By the way, Sirotkin is 10 days younger than me (August 1995) but only one of us is staying in F1...

Read the full story here.

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This is Alonso's final qualifying session of his career, and the team have modified the car design.

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Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Abu Dhabi

It’s a race remembered as Jenson Button’s first victory, but Button won only after Alonso retired from the lead following a storming drive in the wet from 15th on the grid.

Victory slipped through his fingers when a wheel was not attached properly at his final pit stop and it came off the car as he rejoined the track.

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Nick Gunson: People calling for Hamilton to let Bottas through if they are leading near the end of the race... is that not the most humiliating move possible? "You haven't won all season so here you go here's a freebie." Shouldn't happen and hope it doesn't!

Craig: I’m working during the GP today which sucks because Abu Dhabi always delivers such a fantas... HAHAHHAHAHA I couldn’t lie like that. Least exciting race of the year.

This is what our teams look like for next year...

Image source, BBC Sport

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Abu Dhabi

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Red Bull end their relationship with Renault today, and they are not troubling to hide the fact that they are glad it’s over - they believe switching to Honda will give them a competitive boost that in time will allow them to more closely challenge Mercedes and Ferrari.

But despite the bitterness and recriminations that have characterised the partnership in its later years, it has been one of the sport’s most successful. In fact, its statistics are very similar to those achieved by Renault’s fabled partnership with Williams, as the French manufacturer pointed out on Sunday.

In 12 seasons, Red Bull have 59 wins, 60 poles, 60 fastest laps and eight drivers’ and constructors’ championships. With Williams, in 11 seasons, it was 64 wins, 79 poles, 69 fastest laps, and nine championships. Team boss Christian Horner said: “Despite the turbulence that there has been in recent years, we hope to sign off on a positive note, and as I say, close the chapter on the Renault story.”

If there's one thing sport needs more of, it's Daniel Ricciardos...

Fed up of being criticised on his post-race incident with Ocon in Brazil, for shoving him in the weigh-in room, he feels no different on the incident two weeks later.

He says: "We are all emotional and at the time I had lost a victory. Pushing, in any sport, it happens. I actually saw it a few days ago in football again. So from my side, I thought it was quite a calm response."

Verstappen said he only reacted the way he did because of something the Force India driver said.

"You don't hear what is said, you just see me pushing. I was after an apology and I got a bit of a different response," Verstappen added.

And let's be honest, we saw a relatively calm Max, not a mad one.

Read the full story here.

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The final time Fernando Alonso leaves the garage in Formula 1...

Andrew Benson is out in the paddock, and our commentary team of Jack Nicholls, Jolyon Palmer and Jennie Gow will be on BBC Radio 5 live in half an hour.

Image source, Andrew Benson

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Abu Dhabi

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Lewis Hamilton admitted to feeling a little emotional before qualifying on Saturday.

“I was going to be stepping into this car for qualifying (for the last time),” he said. “It’s just been such a journey this year. So many things have happened, so many trials and tribulations along the way and it’s been a real privilege working with these guys.”

One suspects the same sort of emotions will be there before the start. If he wins, it will be his 11th victory this year, matching his best ever tally, from 2014, and he very much wants it.

And if Mercedes a running one-two there appears little chance of him gifting a win to Valtteri Bottas as repayment for Russia. But who knows?

What's the difference between a 13-inch tyre and an 18-inch tyre? The big cheeses of F1 are checking out old versus new after Pirelli confirmed an agreement today to continue supplying tyres to the sort until the end of the 2023 season.

Robert Kubica drove in the first practice session this weekend in replacement of Sergey Sirotkin, getting some practice in for next year...

On his return he says: "It's a big day for me, and the end of a long challenge. It's been a big journey in the last eight years and I thank everyone who helped me."

"I'm starting a new challenge and I'm looking forward to be back in the F1 grid. It's amazing for everyone and you can imagine, that I lost my drive in 2011 and now I'm able to say that I'll be on the grid. I know what it takes to be a good F1 driver because I've been there before - it takes a lot of dedication and I'm ready for it. I miss it and it's a good feeling, the more I talk about it the more excited I am about it."

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The power of the story and the resilience of its subject are unmissable - Robert Kubica will race in Formula 1 next year eight long years after he was nearly killed, and with what can only be described as a disability.

The 33-year-old Pole's withered right arm is a testament to the brutal battle Kubica has fought since much of the right side of his body was smashed by a road-side barrier that penetrated his car on a rally in northern Italy in February 2011.

At the time, he was one of F1's brightest stars, poised to start his second season with Renault, and had already signed to join Ferrari as Fernando Alonso's team-mate in 2012.

But that possible future was torn away from him when he lost control on a chilly mountain road, hit that barrier end on and was left fighting for his life, with a partially severed right arm and multiple fractures.

Read more here.

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Andrew Oakley: If Hamilton is leading Bottas at the end of the race today, he HAS to let Bottas past for the win. Also I can't wait for next year when Red Bull/Honda won't be anywhere near as good as people think it will be. They will fall back into Haas while Renualt move past them.

Jeroen Demmendahl: 2019 prediction: Max Verstappen wins the title after a long fight with Leclerc. Ricciardo to get several podiums. Russell and Giovinazzi to finish ahead of Norris in rookie of the year standings.