What channel is Formula 1 on today? TV schedule, start time for 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Sporting News is tracking live updates, highlights and more from today's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. You can follow along here.

The Formula 1 finale is here.

The 2021 Formula 1 season has been one for the ages: There's been drama, there's been excitement, there's been new races in new places. But more than anything, there's been the championship battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.

The Red Bull and Mercedes drivers have scrapped, clawed and crashed to a shared 369.5 point lead heading into the final F1 race of the 2021 calendar: Whether it was at the devastation at Silverstone or the questionable tactics in Saudi Arabia, there's been no quit in both drivers in the race for the title.

MORE: Watch Formula 1 live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)

A season of crashes, mishaps, time penalties and dust-ups between Verstappen and Hamilton must have Netflix salivating, and unlike some moments of "Drive to Survive" the drama has been organic all season long. The war of words between Toto Wolff and Christian Horner have added fuel to the fire, while history hangs in the balance for both Hamilton and Verstappen.

Now, they bring their title fight to Abu Dhabi, for the final race in the 2021 F1 season: Verstappen took home the honors in 2020, but will have a long way to go to unseat Hamilton, a five-time Yas Marina circuit winner.

It's lights out, and away we go for the 2021 Formula 1 world championship.

Here's what you need to know for this weekend's F1 finale:

What channel is the F1 race on today?

• Race: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
• Date:  Sunday, Dec. 12
• TV channel:  ESPN2
• Live stream: fuboTV /ESPN+

The ESPN family of networks will broadcast all 2021 F1 races in the United States using Sky Sports' feed, with select races airing on ABC later earlier the season.

ESPN Deportes serves as the exclusive Spanish-language home for all 2021 F1 races in the U.S.

What time does the F1 race start today?

• Date: Sunday, Dec. 12
• Start time: 8 a.m. ET

The 8 a.m. ET start time for Sunday's race means the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will start at 5:00 p.m. local time. Lights out will likely take place just after 8 am. ET. ESPN's prerace show usually airs in the hour before the start of the race.

Below is the complete TV schedule for the weekend's F1 events at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. All times are Eastern.

Formula 1 live stream for Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

For those who don't have a cable or satellite subscription, there are five major OTT TV streaming options that carry ESPN — fuboTV, Sling, Hulu, YouTubeTV and AT&T Now. Of the five, Hulu, fuboTV and YouTubeTV offer free-trial options.

Below are links to each.

• fuboTV (free trial)
• Sling
• Hulu  (free trial)
• YouTubeTV (free trial)
• AT&T Now

For those who do have a cable or satellite subscription but are not in front of a TV, Formula 1 races in 2021 can be streamed live via phones, tablets and other devices on the ESPN app with authentication.

Formula 1 schedule 2021

In all, there are 23 scheduled races  in the 2021 F1 season, with the Portuguese Grand Prix sliding onto the docket the first week in March. The originally scheduled Vietnam Grand Prix was removed after the arrest of  Nguyen Duc Chung, while the Chinese Grand Prix is up in the air. It was originally scheduled for April 11 but will likely not take place this season.

The Singapore Grand Prix was also removed from the schedule, with the Turkish Grand Prix returning to the schedule in its stead.

All races will be broadcast in the U.S. on the ESPN family of networks, with the United States Grand Prix and Mexico City Grand Prix both airing on ABC.

Please note: The on-the-hour start times do not include the broadcast start time, which is typically five minutes before the start of the race. Times do not include ESPN's customary prerace shows.

MORE: Live stream F1 races all season on fuboTV (7-day free trial)

Here's the latest schedule: