[Official] Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Thread

[bella]

apparently there's a race this weekend?

hamilton fastest in fp1:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116867

hamilton still ahead in fp2:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116876

[TheNo1F1Fan]

K-Mag impressed with a P3 in FP2.

[djinvicta]

Wheres the Caterhams?

[Nicholosophy]

Any pics of the Caterhams with their new sponsors?

[Peter Mallett]

I was quite surprised to see the empty grand stands yesterday, which is the local weekend. I left that part of the world over a month ago but even then the GP was being pushed fairly heavily in the media. Then today for P3 there seemed to be a few more peeps but not a massive amount.

BTW. Rosberg fastest by 3/10s.

Also interesting responses from Ron D when questioned by Tom Clarkson, although Ron seemed a bit peeved with Tom's closing remarks.

[bjohnsonsmith]

So Abu Dhabi gets the season decider and with double points. Lewis is top of Q1.

[justracing]

Have Williams changed their livery? I thought the Martini colours had a red stripe.

[Peter Mallett]

Getting tense in Q3

[bjohnsonsmith]

Rosberg on pole.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by justracing

Have Williams changed their livery? I thought the Martini colours had a red stripe.

Maybe not allowed sponsorship from an alcoholic drinks company in Abu Dhabi?

[justracing]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Maybe not allowed sponsorship from an alcoholic drinks company in Abu Dhabi?

Good point, I feared something sinister, fantastic turnaround for Williams this year.

[claude2cv]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

So Abu Dhabi gets the season decider and with double points. Lewis is top of Q1.

AD is the season decider because the points gap is less than a race win. Double points is redundant as well as a rubbish idea.

[justracing]

Heartbreaking story from Max Chilton on Marussia's last ditch effort to get to the race. My heart goes out to all those involved. I can't imagine the emotional rollercoaster those guys have been through in the last few days not to mention the financial implications for the engineers. Sacked one day, called back at the last minute with toolboxes to ready the car and falling at the last hurdle. It's these guys who are the heroes.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by claude2cv

AD is the season decider because the points gap is less than a race win. Double points is redundant as well as a rubbish idea.

I'm well aware of that. Maybe I should have included this in my post, .

[fourWheelDrift]

Seems the Red Bulls have failed scrutineering because elements of the front wing are designed to flex under load, here we go again

[ljakse]

I wouldn't be to surprised if:

a) Rosberg cracks under pressure like in Monza, but this time without escape route

or

b) Hamilton goes wild while chasing him, and loses it like in Brasil, but this time without run-off area

[JeremySmith]

Nico will crack under the pressure of been hunted by his faster friend....

[fourWheelDrift]

Originally Posted by fourWheelDrift

Seems the Red Bulls have failed scrutineering because elements of the front wing are designed to flex under load, here we go again

RB excluded from qualifying, start from the back of the grid provided they can stiffen the problem areas of the wings overnight.

[JeremySmith]

Maybe they will have a stiffer one by the morning ?

[wolfhound]

To stiffen the wings they will have to take the cars out of perk ferme which will mean starting from the pit lane. Have I got that right?

[JeremySmith]

Originally Posted by wolfhound

To stiffen the wings they will have to take the cars out of perk ferme which will mean starting from the pit lane. Have I got that right?

I think that is correct....

[wolfhound]

Mind you in that situation they will also be able to change their set up to a pure race set up giving them a potential fast car in the race. I seem to remember them doing that with Vettel's car in the past.

[Oldtony]

Interesting that Ricciardo's season has been bookended by two technical interpretation decisions which have significantly disadvantaged him.
Oh well, just a few more opportunities for passing moves

[ScotsBrutesFan]

I think the exclusion puts in the cars in the same situation as someone who didn't qualify but is allowed to race, that is they are allowed to carry out repairs or corrective work under a limited Parc Ferme.....like if an engine blew in Q1, the team would be allowed to replace the engine and start from the back of the grid. In this case, change the front wings for stronger/up rated ones but must be at the same wing angles.

Red Bull could if they chose withdraw from the Parc Ferme altogether and start from the pit lane. This would be the only way the set up could be changed I believe.

[JeremySmith]

Originally Posted by wolfhound

Mind you in that situation they will also be able to change their set up to a pure race set up giving them a potential fast car in the race. I seem to remember them doing that with Vettel's car in the past.

I would think they would take the data from qualifying and apply it to a race set up, would that be considered cheating I wonder ?