Formula 1 2016: Round 21 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Charlie-Bravo

So the final race of the season is here. Rosberg looks set to take the championship bar any big upsets. Can we have the finale we all want, with suspense until the final lap?

I'm sure going to miss F1 over the winter break. But I do wonder for next year, which team is going to make the best improvement with the changes to aero and tyres.

AMKC

FP1 So far there has been a tyre puncture, a Mclaren not sounding to well and the odd spin one by Grojean and the other by Jordan King in Ocans Manor. It was D Kvyat that had the puncture the team still do not know why.
I know it is not always the most exciting track but it certainly is beautiful I would put it up there with Austin and Malaysia for tracks that are beautiful to look at.

Jordan 199

Button will be using a modified helmet design this weekend:

AMKC

D Kvyat had another flat tyre and then a big spin in FP2. This time the spin was a lot bigger then the one in FP1 do as he was doing 250kmph. Luckily thee was plenty of run of so he did not hit any walls.
Sebastian Vettel had a gearbox failure.

ItsChecoTime

Not sure if it has been mentioned much but if this race was double points this year it would be a straight shootout for the championship, would have made it a bit more interesting

Jordan 199

flazio

What's the problem with the Williams? Lack of Martini sponsorship is because of the Alcohol regulations.

seamusk84

flazio wrote: »

What's the problem with the Williams? Lack of Martini sponsorship is because of the Alcohol regulations.

It looks really slick without the martini logo I think. Nice!

Glico Man

Just finished watching P3. Ferrari have some serious pace in practice. Lets home they can finally translate it to qualifying to give us some vindaloo-esque spice in the race for tomorrow.

Itssoeasy

Let's say the nico and Lewis qualify 1and 2 today will nico accidentally on purpose pull a Prost in Tokyo in 1989 ?

AMKC

FP3 As Glico Man said Ferrari look good but maybe Mercedes were not using full power. Would be great if Ferrari could challange Mercedes for poll would certainly make qualifying and the race more exciting. Terro Rossa still having problems with there car even do they changed the suspension setup last night. Carlos Seinz had a spin today so they decided to bring him in and check his car. Felipa Massa was the only other car to have a spin.

Itssoeasy

I'd say jenson is a sound guy to go for a pint with.

Jordan 199

I have a feeling that one of the Red Bulls will end up qualifying on the front row.

Itssoeasy

Just watching sky and they showed the stats of qualifying but left out the mess that was the first few qualifying sessions with the 90 seconds stuff.

Itssoeasy

Jordan 199 wrote: »

I have a feeling that one of the Red Bulls will end up qualifying on the front row.

Max ? If one of the mercs aren't on the front row then that would be interesting.

Ghost Train

Watching channel 4 HD, nice sculpture they gave to Jenson

Hopefully good qualifying ahead

Jordan 199

Itssoeasy wrote: »

Max ? If one of the mercs aren't on the front row then that would be interesting.

I'd say Daniel

bnt

First race I'm following for a couple of months, not having Sky or Eir Sports. I think it's Nico's year, but I'm not anti-Hamilton as some here are, so I'm just going to enjoy the race regardless of which of them clinches the championship. :cool:

skipper_G

That's why Grosjean will never be a top driver right there. "I don't know, I don't know"

Jordan 199

Great work Wehrlein

Charlie-Bravo

Hamilton does a lap a whole second quicker than any of the practice sessions. So annoying. They're should be maxing out of every session.

Jordan 199

Massa - I want him to get lots of points this weekend so he can finish tenth in the drivers championship.

Itssoeasy

Jordan 199 wrote: »

Massa - I want him to get lots of points this weekend so he can finish tenth in the drivers championship.

Yeah him and button to finish the race well. Two of the good guys in F1 during my years watching.

Itssoeasy

Hi Claire.

AMKC

Hamilton setting some very fast laps. He makes it look so easy. Rosberg does not seem to have an answer to it yet. Kimi not doing to bad at the moment either.

Itssoeasy

So Hamilton on pole.

Itssoeasy

So if it stays like this Nico is champion yes ?

Ghost Train

Vettel and Verstappen behind their teamates

Hamilton with comfortable advantage, Rosberg comfortable second

Pity Button didn't make it into Q3

skipper_G

Well that was all very uninteresting. Rosberg will take that happily. Front row again, if he gets a clean start should be okay tomorrow. The red bulls on different strategy may have been a problem but Verstappen with a poor qualy result I can't see him on the podium from there. Ricciardo might have the beating of Rosberg but 3rd would still be enough

AMKC

Wow that was some lap from Hamilton Ricardo done a good lap too. Kimi also done good. It was 10 10 between Kimi and Vettel on who qualified ahead so kimi just edges it by 1.

Northern Monkey

What's going on with Nico's eyebrows?

AMKC

Think Channel 4 missed a good time to play this there at the end of there qualifying program.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jK-NcRmVcw

It is the Final of the year after all and also the last time that we will see the drivers racing these cars and these car been raced.

Next year they will be all different.

skipper_G

Anybody watching the GP2 feature race? A wheel bounced back into pit lane at a stop, the mechanic ran after it and was oh so close to being wiped out by another car. Scary moment

Ghost Train

skipper_G wrote: »

Anybody watching the GP2 feature race? A wheel bounced back into pit lane at a stop, the mechanic ran after it and was oh so close to being wiped out by another car. Scary moment

Plenty of time for driver to react thankfully. I think I've seen a lot worse things in pit lane. I imagine penalty on the way for it though

Mike Litoris

AMKC wrote: »

Think Channel 4 missed a good time to play this there at the end of there qualifying program.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jK-NcRmVcw

It is the Final of the year after all and also the last time that we will see the drivers racing these cars and these car been raced.

Next year they will be all different.

That's probably the worst thing about their coverage. The god awful music they use.

AMKC

Mike Litoris wrote: »

That's probably the worst thing about their coverage. The god awful music they use.

Agreed no where near as good as BBC when they had all the F1 races. They always picked the right music.

Lake1989

Mike Litoris wrote: »

That's probably the worst thing about their coverage. The god awful music they use.

The guy who presents it is clueless. All he is good at is is linking in Eddie Jordan to say something mildly controversial

Autosport

Whatever happens tomorrow I want to say it's been a pleasure guys and girls having our weekend chats and debates here and I'm gonna miss it over the winter months. Here's to 2017

Jordan 199

I've been a Massa fan since he started to drive alongside Michael Schumacher in 2006. It will be strange for me not seeing him on the grid next year.

jonbravo

Being watching F1 since 95... But never came on here to chat during ... Think button has this in the bag today I can't see anyone stopping him!

Itssoeasy

Well whatever happens today I hop that the driver that wins the championship does it because of him winning and not the other guy losing. And obviously I hope all the drivers come home safe.

And jenson and Felipe have a good race and they feel happy with what they have done in the sport.

jonbravo

If nico slips up today do you think alonso should take this seat for next year!? I do.. For the simple reason alonso is better fact.

mattser

Go Nico

Itssoeasy

Itssoeasy wrote: »

Well whatever happens today I hop that the driver that wins the championship does it because of him winning and not the other guy losing. And obviously I hope all the drivers come home safe.

And jenson and Felipe have a good race and they feel happy with what they have done in the sport.

jonbravo wrote: »

If nico slips up today do you think alonso should take this seat for next year!? I do.. For the simple reason alonso is better fact.

If nico slips up today then I don't know if he'll ever recover properly from it. I mean he's been ahead most of the year and mentally it would crushing if he lost it today.

jonbravo

Itssoeasy wrote: »

If nico slips up today then I don't know if he'll ever recover properly from it. I mean he's been ahead most of the year and mentally it would crushing if he lost it today.

I don't agree really,I don't think you could get to F1 and remain in the sport if your mental game isn't up to it, however just like Irvine , 3 to 4 years under pressure( for want of a better word) from your team mate.... Is time to go a different route maybe!?

Itssoeasy

jonbravo wrote: »

I don't agree really,I don't think you could get to F1 and remain in the sport if your mental game isn't up to it, however just like Irvine , 3 to 4 years under pressure( for want of a better word) from your team mate.... Is time to go a different route maybe!?

Obviously he has mental strength but I've seen occasions where he is unsure of himself and will back off and not attack.

Harika

GP2 shows close racing but hardly any overtaking, whats good news for Rosberg. Hamilton will want to win the start and then keep Rosberg at a two second distance to overheat tyres and engine and push him back. cannot be too close as when Rosberg gets in front, he has very little chance.

Wanderer78

Hamilton for the race win, but Nicos championship. That was a quick season!

jonbravo

Itssoeasy wrote: »

Obviously he has mental strength but I've seen occasions where he is unsure of himself and will back off and not attack.

I don't know really... Experience maybe? Car faults? This year he's being hot on the heels of Ham if not every race!

Ghost Train

Harika wrote: »

GP2 shows close racing but hardly any overtaking, whats good news for Rosberg. Hamilton will want to win the start and then keep Rosberg at a two second distance to overheat tyres and engine and push him back. cannot be too close as when Rosberg gets in front, he has very little chance.

Lots of potential for corner cutting to keep your position, wonder could there be a few incidents like in Mexico. Long straights into tight corners will be something that might suit the late brakers or cars on a better tyre.

Charlie-Bravo

Ha! Eric! Nico Eric Rosberg. He kept that quiet!