DOOHAN IT IN THE SANDPIT

Jack Doohan is facing the race of his life in Abu Dhabi as the grand prix season winds down with more storylines than the cliff-hanger series ending to your favourite television show.

Doohan has a signed contract to race with Alpine in 2025 and should be getting an early advantage thanks to a deal which has freed Esteban Ocon for post-season testing at Haas ahead of next year's racing.

"Stoked to be racing in Abu Dhabi this weekend for my debut Grand Prix. Grateful to Alpine F1 Team for the trust and for giving me this opportunity," Doohan posted on his socials.

But . . .

Conspiracy theorists in the Formula One world suggest Alpine team boss Flavio Briatore is using the grand finale to see if Doohan really has the right stuff for an ongoing race ride.

After all, they say, Franco Colapinto is still looking for a race place in F1 and comes with undoubted speed – despite a string of crashes since joining Williams – and also has a war chest of around $20 million from his backers in Argentina.

What will it mean in Abu Dhabi? That's just one of the storylines.

There is also the battle for the teams' championship – and the vast millions the finishing positions early for the teams.

McLaren has the advantage and, with both Oscar Piastri firing, it should be capable of blocking the attack by Ferrari.

Ferrari also has question marks around team tactics between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, who has been fired and will be making his last start before heading to Williams – where he will effectively replace Colapinto alongside Alex Albon.

Others making their last starts are Zhou Guanyu and Valterri Bottas, as Sauber cleans the driving roster on the first big step towards becoming the Audi team.

And there is The Big One as Sergio 'Checo' Perez lines up for Red Bull Racing, sitting a miserable eight in the drivers' standings after costing his team any chance in the teams' title fight.

Perez is lucky to have survived the season – although there is the $20-plus millions he brings from Mexico – and a firing seems only a formality after Abu Dhabi.

And what about Lewis Hamilton?

Sir Lewis has looked demoralised at times in recent races, where he has been completely overshadowed by George Russell. He has even asked to park the car.

But he was brilliant in Las Vegas as he raced onto the podium in second place and that is the form Ferrari is hoping he will bring to Team Red in 2025.

So there is plenty at play, and plenty to play for, in the grand final.

It's going to be good.