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.”

[Guest]

It is a SC start now

[dyrewolfe]

I've often wondered if SC starts aren't actually MORE dangerous. The cars have to go slower and can't get heat into their brakes and tyres...

[dyrewolfe]

Move by Verstappen on Kimi!

[Guest]

Surely both RB's made illegal pit stops?

[dyrewolfe]

They think the message hadn't gone out in Max's case, when he narrowly avoided the crashed Sauber.

Frankly amazed so many have gone for inters this early.

[dyrewolfe]

Hamilton must be quietly praying Rosberg drops it like Vettel did...

[Guest]

Big crash for Kimi. Nearing a red flag this. If it's raining all day & poor light, they might just give the points out

[dyrewolfe]

Jesus Christ!

We'll be lucky to get any kind of a race with all these cars going off.

Kimi the latest victim, losing it on the restart...unless someone hit him...

[dyrewolfe]

Big crash for Kimi. Nearing a red flag this. If it's raining all day & poor light, they might just give the points out

You called it...red flag.

[Guest]

If it's restarts, Verstappen promoted up to third behind Rosberg looks tasty.

Half points still a possibility too, which favours Rosberg

[dyrewolfe]

5 second penalty for Ricciardo for entering the pits while they were closed.

[Guest]

Crowds are booing. Red flag possibly for good

In the end, the rain has helped Rosberg. Typical. Embarrassing.

[dyrewolfe]

Looks like its race over. Second red flag.

I'm pretty sure I remember races going ahead in worse conditions in the not too distant past.

Think Whiting and the other authority figures are getting overly obsessed with safety.

[Guest]

Brundle - 'This is a poor show'

Sums it up. Half points, Hamilton disadvantaged again, if it doesn't restart.

[Guest]

Race will restart in 10 mins

[dyrewolfe]

Well lets hope they just let it run, whether we get more rain or not (barring an absolute monsoon).

Its been pretty farcical up to now.

[GSC]

Bravado aside, I'm not entirely sure this is the wrong decision. These wet tyres are useless.

[dyrewolfe]

Wow - ballsy move by Max on Rosberg to take 2nd!!!

Go Max!

[dyrewolfe]

Bravado aside, I'm not entirely sure this is the wrong decision. These wet tyres are useless.

Er...have you ever seen a proper "old school" wet GP?

[dyrewolfe]

Holy crap!

Heart in mouth moment for Max there! Incredible skill to hold that slide. Nearly allowed Rosberg to get past.

Seeing some brilliant overtaking here.

[Guest]

Deficit is 9, Lewis needs to be within 7

[dyrewolfe]

Ugh!

Massa crashes near the pit lane entrance...SC out again...

[Guest]

That hurts Mercedes. Can't pit

[dyrewolfe]

Hurts Lewis too as it puts Rosberg right on his gearbox again.

Rain getting heavier again.

[dyrewolfe]

Red Bull screwed their race by pitting both drivers...

[Guest]

Unfortunately Perez can't trouble Rosberg

[dyrewolfe]

Bloody hell! This is some stunning racing by Verstappen. Ricciardo looking pretty lively too.

Some really gutsy stuff!

[Guest]

Verstappen just picking off slower cars with fresh wet tyres really. He should of finished second today Max, Rosberg got away with it

[dyrewolfe]

Vettel surprisingly calm about Max's overtake...maybe he just wants the race to be over...

Amazingly Verstappen has worked his way back to 4th.


Why do FI always make Perez do ridiculously long stints on his tyres? Looks like he is going to be robbed of a podium by Verstappen.

If he ran something close to normal tyre strategies you would think he could be on the podium more often.

[Guest]

12 deficit. Rosberg got lucky today.

Needs a Rosberg blow up in Abu Dhabi

[dyrewolfe]

Good win for Hamilton. Had to be on his toes for the numerous restarts...especially in the treacherous conditions. Unfortunately Rosberg was only briefly challenged for 2nd by Verstappen and minimises the reduction in his lead...still in the box seat for the finale in Abu Dhabi.

Pretty crazy race for Red Bull, with both drivers going up and down the field. Good bit of strategy at the end put them on fresh wets and allowed both drivers to make up ground. Incredible performance from Verstappen to get a podium.

Bad day at the office for Ferrari with Kimi crashing out and Vettel spinning early on. Think Seb won't be too unhappy with 5th after the day he's had.

Great race for Force India, with a hard-fought 4th for Perez and Hulk finishing 7th.

Unexpected bonuses for Sauber and McLaren with Nasr and Alonso finishing 9th and 10th.


Even with the annoying delays, still the best race of the season by far, with the conditions allowing (or possibly forcing) the drivers to showcase their skills to the max.

Am I right in thinking DRS was disabled due to the rain...therefore all overtaking was done unassisted?

[GSC]

Job done for Rosberg, overly cautious probably, but had it all to lose. If he finishes in AD he should be champion.

[nathan]

Vettel surprisingly calm about Max's overtake...maybe he just wants the race to be over...

Amazingly Verstappen has worked his way back to 4th.


Why do FI always make Perez do ridiculously long stints on his tyres? Looks like he is going to be robbed of a podium by Verstappen.

If he ran something close to normal tyre strategies you would think he could be on the podium more often.

He still has the childish behaviour of blaming everyone else for either his poor driver or poor car

[GSC]

And yet Alonso was the same at Ferrari. Becoming a trend.

[Guest]

I'm gonna go all Keegan, but I would luv it, just luv it, if Rosberg blew up in Abu Dhabi.

Unfortunately & depressingly, I can't see that happening & he will crawl over the line & become Champion. Just looks too little, too late for Hamilton

[nathan]

And yet Alonso was the same at Ferrari. Becoming a trend.

And yet massa wasn't, don't think it's the team. Vettle always had a whine when at Red Bull

[GSC]

With all respect, Massas a nice guy but Vettel and Alonso in another league

[nathan]

With all respect, Massas a nice guy but Vettel and Alonso in another league

Which means nothing when comparing if they are a Whinging little bitch

[GSC]

Well if you're considering their motives, both Alonso and Vettel were/are desperate to win another title, Massa post crash was largely happy to be there and served happily as the sidekick.

But I suspect that it's come up probably has less to do with motives and more whether you like who's doing it.

[Guest]

Looks a tough job for Ricciardo now at RB going forward. I imagine that smile will be permanently turned upside down, from next season.

Still think Hamilton can take many positives out of this season, even if he gets pipped to the title. He won the qualifying head to head & in race pace, the gap between himself & Nico is still sizeable. He's also strengthened his legacy by surpassing Prost in total wins & is now only eight poles behind Schumacher. Even yesterday, Verstappen pretty much schooled everybody, apart from a faultless Hamilton, which just showcases the class of Lewis.

[GSC]

Idk, give me Ricciardo over Verstappen. Should have really won 3 races this year. Though Max seems to be the new golden child, must be something about RB and Aussies.

I thought it'd be Sainz in the Ferrari next year but Ricciardo might be worth a punt if they can't settle their differences with Vettel.

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