Abu DhabiGP/Fernando Collects £800 & can pass go Thread - Contains Quali & Race spoilers

[Fernando]

First topic message reminder :

Yas Marina wants for nothing in terms of facilities. If only the same could be said of its track.

Track data: Yas Marina

Lap length 5.554km (3.451 miles)
Grand prix distance 305.355km (189.739 miles)
Lap record (race) 1’40.279 (Sebastian Vettel, 2009)
Fastest lap (any session) 1’38.434 (Lewis Hamilton, 2011, qualifying two)
Tyre compounds See drivers’ choices
2015 Rate the Race 5.25 out of 10
2015 Driver of the Weekend Sergio Perez
Yas Marina track data in full

But the circuit which has the honour of holding this year’s title-deciding race leaves everything to be desired when it comes to challenging the world’s best drivers and cars.

It’s wide, smooth, flat and – aside from a pair of lengthy straights – slow. Whatever brief the track designer was given, showcasing F1 at its best was not it.

“It’s not the most thrilling of tracks,” says master of understatement Daniil Kvyat, “as many of the corners are very similar”. Other drivers have been similarly dismissive of its untaxing, stop-start nature.

The track has produced few riveting races since it first appeared on the calendar in 2009. The surprise outcome of the 2010 title-decider and Sebastian Vettel’s race through the field two years later stick in the mind. But last year’s forgettable finale was more typical of what we’ve come to expect from this venue.

Abu Dhabi’s stable climate means we can discount the possibility of surprising weather changes playing a role in Sunday’s championship finale. But Pirelli’s decision to bring its most aggressive tyre selection could offer the drivers new strategic options this year.

A lap of Yas Marina


From the start line the drivers arrive quickly at turn one. This is the first of many 90-degree corners but is quicker than the rest, typically taken in fourth gear. Accelerating out of the left-hander the drivers approach what passes for the most interesting section on the track – the flat-out sweep through turns two, three and four.
The pit lane entrance joins the track at this point and we have seen some near-misses as drivers blend in with traffic. Fernando Alonso took a punishing ride over the kerbs here in 2013.

As the drivers leave turn four at speed they are quickly upon the next sequence of corners: a slow chicane followed by a hairpin. “You go down the hill, braking into six – very tricky braking turning into six, then straight away into seven,” explains Romain Grosjean. “You need to be well positioned for the hairpin going down the back straight. It’s tricky to get the car to turn.”

Two long straights separated by the turn eight/nine chicane follow. “Again you need to be well positioned between the left and right-hand side corners,” says Grosjean. “Then it’s another straight line on to 11, 12 and 13. It’s a triple chicane and as soon as you exit that part you go flat out then brake for turn 14, which is a 90-degree left-hand side corner.”


Following the tricky curved approach to turn 17 the final sector of the lap involves a sequence of slow bends, most of which are right-angles. “As soon as you go out of 17 you have to brake again for 18,” says Grosjean. Two left-handers lead them beneath the Yas Viceroy hotel, with a “tricky exit” as the cars straighten up ahead of the final pair of bends.
“The second to last corner is good,” comments Grosjean. “It’s high speed in fourth or fifth gear.”

After that the run-off area at the final corner invites drivers to run wide. “The last corner is very tricky,” Grosjean explains. “It’s very wide on the entry phase with the pit lane on the right-hand side. It’s not easy to find a line.”

[Fernando]

[Guest]

A little stat to look at, while we wait for Russia. Thanks to his win in China, Nico Rosberg now has the most race victories in F1, for a driver that has never won a WDC.

Nico Rosberg = 17
Stirling Moss = 16
David Coulthard = 13
Carlos Reutemann = 12
Felipe Massa = 11
Rubens Barrichello= 11
Ronnie Peterson = 10
Gerhard Berger = 10

[Fernando]

The World Motor Sport Council has ratified changes to the sporting regulations to allow Pirelli more track time to develop its 2017 Formula 1 tyres.

There will be 25 'car days' of testing using current cars, fitted with 2017 tyre sizes, permitted this year and again over the following two seasons.

In addition, the FIA says "there will be an opportunity to test prototype 2017 tyres (in 2016 sizes) on 2013 or 2014 cars" but these tests will only be permitted this year.

The FIA added in a statement: "The further testing was deemed to be essential for the purpose of developing the new tyre sizes permitted by the 2017 F1 technical regulations".

Articles 10.2 and 10.6 of the sporting regulations will be adjusted to reflect the changes.

With significant changes planned, Pirelli wanted to ensure it had enough time and testing to prepare next year's new rubber.

Five teams have indicated they are interested in supplying a 2015 car for modification, understood to be Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull and Force India, and one of either Williams or McLaren.

With confirmation of the testing plans, it is believed Pirelli and the FIA are also now set to sign off on the contract from 2017-19, over six months after the Italian manufacturer was confirmed as continuing as supplier.

[dyrewolfe]

Not that I'm any kind of expert, but what would be the point of testing the 2017 tyres, which are supposed to be wider or larger circumference, on current or older cars?

Those cars weren't designed to work with 2017 spec tyres, so how useful would the data be?

Testing the 2017 compounds with the current tyre sizes at least makes some sense.

[Fernando]

Former Marussia team principal John Booth has joined Toro Rosso as Director of Racing

[GSC]

Hamilton probably needs at least 2nd this weekend.

Doesn't have to fully arrest the slide but needs to keep Rosberg in range

[Fernando]

Well if Mercedes start as usual they could be a long way back by T1

[GSC]

Not that easy to come through the field here either, being a pseudo street circuit.

[Fernando]

Indeed. I wouldn't be surprised to see RB on the podium.

So it'll be mildly entertaining.

[dyrewolfe]

Red Bull will be testing their head protection device during free practice - basically a reinforced windscreen, with what looks like a padded bar around the top to stop drivers bumping their heads.

The halo is still the preferred device at this stage, but the "aeroscreen" isn't being ruled out yet.



Full article here

[Fernando]

Nico dominates P1 by 0.7 from Hamilton. Id hope Lewis made a mistake tbh otherwise a very big gap

[Guest]

Vettel gets a five place grid penalty for change of gearbox

[Guest]

Surprise, surprise.....Hamilton PU failure in qualifying.

[Guest]

Hamilton will be starting at least tenth but more likely he will start from the back due to engine failure and a need to change an engine or something. Looking more like a runaway Championship for Nico Rosberg. This could be an incredibly boring season.

[Gregers]

Haha Hamilton

Hopefully someone can challenge rosberg tomorrow but I'm enjoying watching Hamiltons luck catching up with him

[Jermaine2015]

Always find John's conspiracy theories amusing. Suck it up Hamilton. You got gifted the 2014 & 2015 back to the real world in 2016.

[dyrewolfe]

...and Hamilton's run of bad luck continues...



Be interesting to see if Vettel can do anything against Rosberg at the start. Should be a good scrap between Bottas and Raikkonen. Ricciardo I'm sure will make up a couple of places.

Other than that, not too much to get excited about.


EDIT:
--------------
Forgot about Seb's gearbox penalty. Guess Rosberg will power into the distance unless he fluffs his start and someone behind him nails theirs...

[dyrewolfe]

Haha Hamilton

Hopefully someone can challenge rosberg tomorrow but I'm enjoying watching Hamiltons luck catching up with him

Always find John's conspiracy theories amusing. Suck it up Hamilton. You got gifted the 2014 & 2015 back to the real world in 2016.

Oh look - the trolls have escaped from their caves.

Weren't so chirpy before, were we?

[Guest]

Yes, reporting the fact his PU failed is a conspiracy theory. Please remove yourself & go back to the Moto GP thread

[GSC]

Handbags away...

[Jermaine2015]

Haha Hamilton

Hopefully someone can challenge rosberg tomorrow but I'm enjoying watching Hamiltons luck catching up with him

Always find John's conspiracy theories amusing. Suck it up Hamilton. You got gifted the 2014 & 2015 back to the real world in 2016.

Oh look - the trolls have escaped from their caves.

Weren't so chirpy before, were we?

Comeback when Hamilton is in Vettel's league

[Hammersmith harrier]

Hamilton would have to become a far worse driver for that to happen.

[Jermaine2015]

Hamilton would have to become a far worse driver for that to happen.

Hamilton is probably the most overrated driver in F1 history.

The continual links with a legend like Ayrton Senna are embarrassing.

All three of Hamilton's championships are an embarrassment to F1's lasting legacy.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Poor old Gerry, getting his knickers in a twist because an Englishmen is successful, you were just as transparent in your old guise.

[Gregers]

Not trolling just dislike Hamilton, he's a good driver but can't stand his attitude. Nice to see his blessed luck run out

[Guest]

Vettel out. Safety car deployed & Hamilton in fifth.

[GSC]

"Hey Max,

Its Helmut, how'd you like to step up to the Red Bull next year?"

[Guest]

Slow start from Hamilton but in the carnage that saw Vettel being hit twice and going out he ends up in fifth. Just be interesting to see if Hamilton's engine stays the course. He still is having problems getting away / with his starts. It is not clear whether Hamilton has just not mastered the equipment used in the starts as Rosberg appears to have done (although Mercedes don't seem to be as good as some other cars in getting quick starts), or whether again his car is just not working as well as Rosberg. Hamilton wants to know why his car keepings breaking down / underperforming during qualifying / during the race while in pre-testing the car seemed to be great. It is not clear - but maybe the "team part" for Hamilton is not working for some reason. Rosberg and "team Rosberg" (all the engineers dealing with his car) seem to have really all pulled together since the end of last season. Rosberg already has beaten Hamilton's record for most number of consecutive wins and is heading towards the record of most number of consecutive wins in F1 history.

[Jermaine2015]

Don't see Daniil Kvyat having much longer at Red Bull Racing, a bit like Romain Grosjean in his early days - Kvyat is just aggressive and also lacks general awareness as to what's around him. The saving Grace for Grosjean was he possessed blistering pace, something that Kvyat doesn't. Also Red Bull Racing have an endless pool of fabulous young drivers eagerly awaitting the opportunity to get a seat at the top table.

[Guest]

Easy day at the office for Nico, with no issues

Good job from Lewis, in terms of damage limitation

Rosberg joins Schumacher, Vettel & Ascari in winning seven consecutive races. #oddmanout

Pretty dull race overall

[Jermaine2015]

Not my cup of tea but a masterclass dished up by Nico Rosberg in Russia, completed his first grand slam in F1 to boot. 7 straight wins...4 straight wins whichever rocks your boat.._

[Jermaine2015]

Rosberg joins Schumacher, Vettel & Ascari in winning seven consecutive races. #oddmanout

I'm guessing Ascari's the odd man out???

[Hammersmith harrier]

I'm guessing it's not the two time world champion.

[Guest]

Great day for Nico Rosberg who now leads by 43 points and seven consecutive wins.

This is disastrous for Formula 1.  One dominant team.  One dominant driver.  Rosberg and Mercedes are so far ahead right at the beginning of the season I can imagine viewing figures are going to drop even more than what they have been doing.  The marketing model of Ecclestone has been to increase the total market by adding races in new regions but the "traditional" market must be dropping away like a stone - sort of consistent with the removal of traditional F1 race tracks from the season.

For Hamilton this I think must be good for him in terms of refinding his motivation.  Because last year after having won his third championship title and after having matched his hero Ayton Senna, and after exploring a new lifestyle with the celebrity jet set - it did seem that he had filled his belly in terms of his F1 aspirations. I also got the feeling that complacency was also setting in.

[dyrewolfe]

That tears it!

Hamilton's car develops mysterious "water pressure" issues, just has he's closing the gap to Rosberg and still had a chance of challenging for the win.

I'm donning my tinfoil hat and will not take it off until Lewis has a few races without any mechanical / electrical gremlins.


As John said, a pretty boring race after the opening lap shenanigans.


Decent race for Williams with both drivers finishing well in the points. Good drives from Kimi, Magnussen and Grosjean.

Probably the biggest story of this race is that both McLarens finished in the points!  Great drive by Alonso to drag his car into 6th...did NOT expect that!

[GSC]

You're about 2 years too late on conspiracy theories about Mercedes favoring 1 driver. My boss is convinced Lauda hates Nico.

[Jermaine2015]

I'm guessing it's not the two time world champion.

Sarcasm._.

[Jermaine2015]

You're about 2 years too late on conspiracy theories about Mercedes favoring 1 driver. My boss is convinced Lauda hates Nico.

I thought everyone hated Nico

[Jermaine2015]

Hamilton back to McLaren in 2017 what's the probability._.

[Guest]

I've always rated Nico Rosberg, but he was lacking something in race craft that allowed more aggressive drivers like Hamilton and Vettel to get the better of him everything else being equal.  What Rosberg has added to his racing skills with the competition he got with Hamilton as team mate was aggression, which he first overdid, and got a warning from Mercedes and then sought of wimped out.  But he has steadily worked on it to get a controlled aggression which he managed to find in perhaps the lowest point in his career last year - when yet again Hamilton beat him convincingly to the title.  Then I think two things happened, Hamilton got complacent, and Rosberg just clicked in the racing mentality - he had nothing else to "lose", his wife had given birth to his first child, and he just found that extra bit of calm and controlled aggression on the race track.

So even if Hamilton's car was reliable this season I still think he would have had difficulty winning the championship this year from Nico Rosberg.

[Hammersmith harrier]

What actually happened is Hamilton has run into mechanical problems race after race after race, Rosberg has shown no more aggression as he's not had to race against anyone, when he does he'll wimp out as he always has.

[Jermaine2015]

I've always rated Nico Rosberg, but he was lacking something in race craft that allowed more aggressive drivers like Hamilton and Vettel to get the better of him everything else being equal.  What Rosberg has added to his racing skills with the competition he got with Hamilton as team mate was aggression, which he first overdid, and got a warning from Mercedes and then sought of wimped out.  But he has steadily worked on it to get a controlled aggression which he managed to find in perhaps the lowest point in his career last year - when yet again Hamilton beat him convincingly to the title.  Then I think two things happened, Hamilton got complacent, and Rosberg just clicked in the racing mentality - he had nothing else to "lose", his wife had given birth to his first child, and he just found that extra bit of calm and controlled aggression on the race track.

Nothing to lose is probably the right summarization. Nico doesn't have a contract for 2017, he's to Hamilton three years in a row and a fourth straight defeat certainly ends his Mercedes career.

[Jermaine2015]

What actually happened is Hamilton has run into mechanical problems race after race after race, Rosberg has shown no more aggression as he's not had to race against anyone, when he does he'll wimp out as he always has.

Hamilton bummed the start in two races hardly Nico's fault or problem

[GSC]

He beat Hamilton 3 years ago didn't he?

[GSC]

What actually happened is Hamilton has run into mechanical problems race after race after race, Rosberg has shown no more aggression as he's not had to race against anyone, when he does he'll wimp out as he always has.

Hamilton bummed the start in two races hardly Nico's fault or problem

This is also fair. Hamiltons had bad luck with the car for sure, but some of it is self imposed

[Guest]

I get the feeling with Hamilton's celebrity jet setting lifestyle that really seemed to accelerate last season (and he made a fool of himself at Wimbledon) that he is spending less time with his engineering team at the factory workshop, whereas Nico Rosberg is spending more time with his engineering team getting more involved with them and the testing and development of the car. Hence Hamilton's mechanical problems and his bewilderment as to what is causing them, may also be partly down to him, in terms of his engagement or lack of it with his engineering team and the car between races.

[Guest]

Stop talking nonsense

[GSC]

I doubt thats the case. Combination of things, bad luck, crap starts, switched off last season, its not that easy to suddenly flip that switch back on.

[GSC]

If Nico can get the lead over 50 points after Monaco, I'll start taking it seriously

[dyrewolfe]

I get the feeling with Hamilton's celebrity jet setting lifestyle that really seemed to accelerate last season (and he made a fool of himself at Wimbledon) that he is spending less time with his engineering team at the factory workshop, whereas Nico Rosberg is spending more time with his engineering team getting more involved with them and the testing and development of the car.  Hence Hamilton's mechanical problems and his bewilderment as to what is causing them, may also be partly down to him, in terms of his engagement or lack of it with his engineering team and the car between races.

How are a couple of fluffed starts and car issues in any way connected with his off-track lifestyle?

Any driver can make mistakes and Lewis has openly admitted the move from double to single clutch starts is something he has had difficulty getting comfortable with, but they've only been responsible for his problems in half the races so far. His engine problems have been directly attributed to the hybrid system - the most complex part of the car. Given that even the engineers haven't been able to figure out what is causing the issues, why would Lewis be able to provide any additional insight?

Drivers can describe how a car feels to drive and may even have an idea what is causing some of the more basic problems, but I doubt any of them can diagnose faults in the hybrid system.

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