After 19 races over 21,000 laps comprising countless thousands of miles, the Formula One circus finds itself almost back where it started eight months ago, in the desert.

Having missed out last year, the Yas Island circuit finally gets to host a season finale which actually means something, indeed, the race it is hosting today is one of the most important in recent years and is sure to attract some of the sport's highest ever global viewing figures.

What we have today, certainly on paper, is the possibility of a battle of epic proportions, something that even Hollywood would be hard pushed to match. Whether the race lives up to expectations however, who knows?

Nonetheless, the journey to Abu Dhabi has been one of high drama, and who would have imagined that eight months ago following that uninspiring procession in Bahrain.

Mathematically, four drivers are still in with a shot at the title, though in the opinion of most only three, at a stretch two, should be taken seriously. Then again, wasn't it Murray Walker who always insists - quite wrongly as it happens - that F1 is If backwards?

Last year's race, which saw Sebastian Vettel lead home a Red Bull 1-2, was relatively incident free other than a minor coming together between Mark Webber and Rubens Barrichello at the start. Then again, Lewis Hamilton - one of only two retirements - was sidelined after just 20 laps as a result of a "rogue" brake pad.

Despite wild speculation, it is highly unlikely that we're going to witness a major incident this afternoon which will turn the championship on it head, certainly in terms of startline pile-ups and first corner clashes, however, reliability could be a factor, especially with a number of drivers pushing the envelope in terms of the remaining life in their engines.

The main topic of interest, as if we need reminding, is the four-way title fight between Alonso, Webber, Vettel and Hamilton. However, let's not forget that a number of drivers have yet to secure deals for next year and the final rankings in the all (financially) important Constructors' Championship are far from settled.

As far as the title fight is concerned, Fernando Alonso has the edge, a situation that improved when Mark Webber was only able to qualify fifth. Sebastian Vettel has the opportunity to become one of the sport's true heroes this afternoon but so too does Lewis Hamilton, who, in his own words, has nothing to lose. And lest we forget Murray's mantra of "if", just cast your mind back to Interlagos 2008 when the championship was decided in the final corner of the last lap.

So stuff the speculation and rhetoric, let's hope for a good clean - ok not too clean - fight that lives up to the hype. Let's hope for a race worthy of the occasion and a champion worthy of the title. Then again, all four men have been mighty impressive this season. Yes there have been mistakes, there has been silliness, there have been outburst and tantrums, but make no mistake none of these guys is in the position of being a title contender by accident or luck.

As the cars come out for their installation laps, weather conditions are ideal. It was overcast earlier this morning, leading to speculation that those predicting rain had got it right. However, as we approach the 17:00 start time its bright and somewhat balmy as the sun begins to set.

Asked on the grid where his responsibilities lie this afternoon, the uber-cool Vettel quickly replies: "in my hands".