Abu Dabhi Grand Prix discussion thread

[Valve Bounce]

With all the discussions going around all aspects affecting the outcome of this race, we don't have a thread for discussion of the race - so here it is. Sadly, this is the final race of the season, and there is nothing happening until early (or mid) March.

We have 4 drivers (mathematically) still in the hunt, although with Lewis Hamilton, we are drawing a very long bow. Alonso is in the lead and can win the championship if he comes within the first two. So we have all sorts of conspiracy theories going as to what will happen.

Practice is about to start so let's see what happems.

But comes Sunday evening (for some of us) when the lights go out, the BS stops!! or will it start??

Interesting race this. We are open for race and quals and practice comments here.

[Tazio]

ailor: !!!!!!!!

[Tazio]

Heavy rain.
http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=394256

[Valve Bounce]

Well, that certainly is news. May yet Bunsen will play a significant role in his last race as champion.

[Big Ben]

Not that I wasn't convinced already but now that we have rain in the desert this is is the weirdest f1 season I have followed so far

[Dave B]

It's pretty much dry now, and 28 degrees, but still some people are doing exploratory laps on inters as the track is still slippery

Not much running so far, almost as if people are trying to look after their engines!

[ShiftingGears]

It's pretty much dry now, and 28 degrees, but still some people are doing exploratory laps on inters as the track is still slippery

Not much running so far, almost as if people are trying to look after their engines!

I'll be amazed if Alonso's engine lets go this weekend.

[Dave B]

People talk about Ferrari engines, but forget that both Red Bulls are also on their 8th.

Massa only took a 9th as a precautionary change because his Singapore qualifying was so bad, and whatever problems they had at the start of the season seem well and truly under control.

I think this whole "when will Alonso's engine detonate?" discussion is, forgive the phrase, overblown.

[Dave B]

Vettel quickest followed by Hamilton, Button and Webber. Alonso 6th, Massa 11th.

Pretty typical for a first practice, expect Ferrari to look quicker tomorrow and McLaren to go backwards during the weekend.

[Dave B]

FP1 times:

Pos  Driver              Car                   Time       Gap       Laps
 1.  Sebastian Vettel    Red Bull-Renault      1m42.760s            18
 2.  Lewis Hamilton      McLaren-Mercedes      1m43.369s  + 0.609s  16
 3.  Jenson Button       McLaren-Mercedes      1m43.785s  + 1.025s  19
 4.  Mark Webber         Red Bull-Renault      1m43.840s  + 1.080s  19
 5.  Robert Kubica       Renault               1m44.080s  + 1.320s  19
 6.  Fernando Alonso     Ferrari               1m44.121s  + 1.361s  17
 7.  Michael Schumacher  Mercedes              1m44.199s  + 1.439s  19
 8.  Kamui Kobayashi     Sauber-Ferrari        1m44.604s  + 1.844s  18
 9.  Nico Rosberg        Mercedes              1m44.718s  + 1.958s  19
10.  Nick Heidfeld       Sauber-Ferrari        1m44.737s  + 1.977s  19
11.  Felipe Massa        Ferrari               1m45.160s  + 2.400s  18
12.  Vitaly Petrov       Renault               1m45.445s  + 2.685s  21
13.  Rubens Barrichello  Williams-Cosworth     1m45.474s  + 2.714s  15
14.  Adrian Sutil        Force India-Mercedes  1m45.552s  + 2.792s  20
15.  Tonio Liuzzi        Force India-Mercedes  1m45.585s  + 2.825s  14
16.  Jaime Alguersuari   Toro Rosso-Ferrari    1m46.003s  + 3.243s  20
17.  Nico Hulkenberg     Williams-Cosworth     1m46.644s  + 3.884s  19
18.  Sebastien Buemi     Toro Rosso-Ferrari    1m47.105s  + 4.345s  22
19.  Timo Glock          Virgin-Cosworth       1m48.450s  + 5.690s  19
20.  Jarno Trulli        Lotus-Cosworth        1m48.472s  + 5.712s  17
21.  Lucas di Grassi     Virgin-Cosworth       1m49.375s  + 6.615s  13
22.  Bruno Senna         Hispania-Cosworth     1m49.590s  + 6.830s  18
23.  Christian Klien     Hispania-Cosworth     1m50.274s  + 7.514s  17
24.  Fairuz Fauzy        Lotus-Cosworth        1m51.705s  + 8.945s  18