Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2011

[driveace]

after the first left hand bend,Vettel went completely over the ridge on the right of the track,and actually straddled the ridge,with his right hand tyres .No one else did,they rode up onto the ridge,but no one else went over it,as vettel did, immediately he rejoined the track for the next left,then felt the tyre let him down,and spun off .

[AndyL]

After watching the replay from the rear angle, I like the theory that the tyre got pulled off the rim coming back across the outside edge of the kerb (with the pressure still low).

[Knock-on]

"We did the investigation with Red Bull and that's what we both concluded. There's no sign of any tyre failure other than something has clearly created a big hole in it."

This from Paul Hembury.

Pirelli's Paul Hembery says they will never know what caused Vettel's puncture - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com

So, it wasn't Pirelli's fault it failed and it's unlikely it was debris.

I know Hembury says there are 100's of potential causes but if you discount the Tyre failing and debris, it leaves just a few alternatives:

1. Something RBR did caused the failure
2. How the car took the curbs caused the failure
3. Sabotage

Pretty unlikely to be number 3 (although Pauls wording doesn't exclude this) and Seb didn't look like he was overly lairy in the first corner, although he might have caught a curb wrong. We will never know for sure but my guess it may be number 1.

[jens]

3. Sabotage

Considering, how fond can people be about conspiracy theories, this case would simply make a brilliant plot for such story. If this was something that decided the championship, we would surely have some theories flying around.

"Oh there was a random cut in the tyre and no-one understands, how this was possible." Khmm... :

[wedge]

Note that the top 10 running order at the end of Lap 2 was exactly the same as the Top 10 at the end of the race.

Make of that what you will...

Doesn't really tell the whole story:

Alonso being Alonso with his Bulldog spirit

Webber compromised into a 3 stopper and provided overtaking even if the end result would be fallible

FI's split tyre strategy

[SGWilko]

If you look at the race start from onboard Button's car, there is a puff of smoke from Seb's right rear as he launches. Could this be the tyre spinning on the rim, setting up the deflation after the first corner??????

You can see this on the F1 Forum on iPlayer, it's at 52mins and 54secs ish......

[kfzmeister]

I've now read that RBR possibly underinflated Seb's rear tires in order to give him more traction while leaving the line (Just like is done in drag racing). That might actually explain his great get-a-ways all season. The tires that he then get's after the first pitstop are then inflated more.
Anyway, that might have cost him the race, when you consider the massive side load and heavily fueled car into the first couple of corners

[Knock-on]

I've also had another idea. What if Red Bull are using more of an air mix to inflate the tyres. This would mean that there is lower pressure (more grip) off the line but when the tyres get up to temp, they'll be up to full pressure. Only problem is that it wasn't up to pressure by the corner and popped the bead.

Just a theory but could explain it.

[wedge]

According undisclosed RBR sources Autosport magazine reported that RBR's exhaust system - which also heats up the hub caused the tyre to fail. A plume of smoke was visible just before the start coming from the rear of Vettel's car.