71 replies to this topic

[Cool Beans]

 

Didn't see a thread for the GP so here it is. With fancy images and stats. Any hopes / fears relating to the GP, feel free to share. We all know who's going to win but let's pretend we're super excited for this one!

 

 

Interestingly, nobody has ever won this race from pole, or so FIA's race preview tells me. (Edit: well, turns out it actually doesn't say that at all. Probably. I still have no idea what a poisoned chalice is.)

 

 

I spent way too long making these stupid images and they look like crap. Enjoy them and have a civilised discussion below.

Edited by Cool Beans, 30 October 2013 - 19:20.

[Zava]

 

Interestingly, nobody has ever won this race from pole, or so FIA's race preview tells me. 

2010. 

[Cool Beans]

Bugger. I really am an idiot. The poisoned chalice thing got me confused.

Edited by Cool Beans, 30 October 2013 - 19:09.

[ArkZ]

Unusual track where lap at the start of Q3 can provide better time than the lap on the end of Q3, because of temperature drop. Long 7th gear also welcome in the race.

Edited by ArkZ, 30 October 2013 - 19:14.

[vista]

It will be an interesting battle for once again for 2nd place in WCC. I hope Ferrari can qualify well but the third sector will be painful to watch at live timings I fear.

[DutchQuicksilver]

Last year's race was surprisingly good to watch. Let's hope it's the same this year.

[SophieB]

Hooray for an effort-post for an F1 race! Thanks, Cool Beans. Dig the fancy font.

[Watkins74]

Nice job in the OP. Way to go Cool Beans. 

[midgrid]

The events of 2011 and 2012 show us that, even with the fastest car, Vettel and Red Bull are not infallible, although he has to remain the boiling-Arabian-desert-hot favourite to win this weekend.

[PayasYouRace]

Not quite on the level of the Indycar threads but it'll have to do 

 

The best thing about the last part of this season is not having to wait too long for each race. Abu Dhabi isn't usually all that exciting though. Wonder if something will prevent Seb from winning this time?

[NexusIcon]

Hopefully Adrian Newey had another brainfart when he designed in the cooling of the RB9, as he has done before.

I've no malice to Seb, he's thoroughly deserved another title, but he's done it now. Let someone else have the big trophy.

[Fastcake]

 

 

Wait, this year they've randomly constructed roundabouts on the circuit!?

 

Good job Taki Inoue isn't driving, he'll probably end up going back the way he came.

Edited by Fastcake, 30 October 2013 - 20:09.

[SamH123]

Nice opening post!

 

Hamilton ended a period of Vettel domination at Abu Dhabi last year but this year I would have thought Vettel's advantage (at India for example) is too big to be overturned

 

What with Newey hinting they might have pushed too hard this year I wonder if they now will be fully thinking of 2014 and so, for example have less people sorting out Vettel's KERS than they have in the previous races.

 

This looks a weak track for Ferrari so I think their challenge for 2nd in wcc will fade

[V3TT3L]

So Kimi will defend his victory from last year 

[Kingshark]

In 3 out of the 4 races in Abu Dhabi, the pole sitter retired from the race due a misfortune of some sort (brakes, puncture, hydraulics).

 

Surprising statistic.

[sennafan24]

Got all my fingers and toes crossed Lewis returns to form this weekend. Would settle for a podium ahead of Rosberg.

 

The favorite has to be Vettel though on current team and driver form.

[stobiesaur]

I've got this little wish we're I really hope to one day once again see someone other than Vettel win a race but it's really not looking likely for the rest of the season.  Vettel in that car equals dominance but here's hoping for a repeat of his 2012 weekend.  I'd love to see Grosjean turn his run of great form into a victory

[OO7]

I didn't realise we were racing this weekend?

[gm914]

Well I'll be. An F1 OP that doesn't begin with "Anyone know what the weather will be like?" You've been lurking the Indycar/NASCAR threads, old Bean. 

 

 

 

So, anyone know what the weather will be like?

[TomNokoe]

Wouldn't be surprised to see a Vettel/Hamilton front row, again.

[Kelateboy]

I didn't realise we were racing this weekend?

 

We are spoilt of choices lately - 6 races in 8 weeks. 3 consecutive double headers to close the season.

[joshb]

Unusual track where lap at the start of Q3 can provide better time than the lap on the end of Q3, because of temperature drop. Long 7th gear also welcome in the race.

Or like 2011 when Hamilton topped Q2 with the fastest ever lap here and no-one went quicker in Q3 so Hamilton's Q2 time would've got him pole, but Vettel beat his time right at the end.

 

As for this weekend.... more of the same please Seb!

[Shiroo]

Hopefully we will see Grosjean win. He deserves it.

[PayasYouRace]

Well if it gives any hope, Schumacher only won 1 race out of the last 5 in 2004, and that was the season where he won 12 out of the first 13. Anything's possible.

[stanga]

In 3 out of the 4 races in Abu Dhabi, the pole sitter retired from the race due a misfortune of some sort (brakes, puncture, hydraulics).

 

Surprising statistic.

 

And of those three, two of them were Hamilton while comfortably leading. Third time lucky?

[Cool Beans]

Well I'll be. An F1 OP that doesn't begin with "Anyone know what the weather will be like?" You've been lurking the Indycar/NASCAR threads, old Bean. 

 

 

 

So, anyone know what the weather will be like?

 

Glad you asked, old gm914. The weather is sunshine and stays pretty much exactly the same all weekend.

 

 

 

[PayasYouRace]

Well I'm only expecting sunshine at the start of the race. I expect clear skies throughout though.

[TomNokoe]

And of those three, two of them were Hamilton while comfortably leading. Third time lucky?

He wasn't comfortable in 2009, but that was because of the brake problem. Was on pole by 6-7 tenths or something silly. Kept running wide before the hotel underpass. Retired after first round of stops after Vettel jumped him

[Racer3]

Hopefully we will see Grosjean win. He deserves it.

 

+1

It is high time for Romain to climb the top step of the podium!

He has provided some very convincing races lately and has clearly learned some important lessons.

Given that the technical gremlins must find their way into Seb's car at some stage of the season, the odds might be stacked in RG's favour...

[mangeliiito]

I usually don't complain about the Tilkedromes, I love Sepang and really like Korea, who always seem to produce good racing. But I don't know what happened here, it looks stunning and on paper it should be a awesome track, but meh...   Hope some of the faster guys do a Vettel 2012 and we get to see some racing... 

 

And yeah, don't wish for your favorite driver on pole 

[Juggles]

I've always wondered if the track layout is actually supposed to look like a gun? Maybe it's just the Mr Hyde half of my personality seeing what it wants to see though.

[Cool Beans]

Driver press conference will start in an hour.

 

Participants:

Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)

Valtteri Bottas (Williams)

Romain Grosjean (Lotus)

Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

Adrian Sutil (Force India)

Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)

 

Tomorrow's TP press conference has the following people:

 

Cyril Abiteboul (Caterham)

John Booth (Marussia)

Paul Hembery (Pirelli)

Franz Tost (Toro Rosso)

Claire Williams (Williams)

Martin Whitmarsh (McLaren)

 

And number of new engines used up until this race:

 

01 Red Bull Racing Renault Sebastian Vettel 7

02 Red Bull Racing Renault Mark Webber 7

03 Ferrari Fernando Alonso 7 

04 Ferrari Felipe Massa 7

05 McLaren Mercedes Jenson Button 8

06 McLaren Mercedes Sergio Perez Mendoza 8

07 Lotus Renault Kimi Räikkönen 7

08 Lotus Renault Romain Grosjean 7

09 Mercedes Nico Rosberg 8 

10 Mercedes Lewis Hamilton 8

11 Sauber Ferrari Nico Hülkenberg 7

12 Sauber Ferrari Esteban Gutierrez 7

14 Force India Mercedes Paul Di Resta 8

15 Force India Mercedes Adrian Sutil 8

16 Williams Renault Pastor Maldonado 7

17 Williams Renault Valtteri Bottas 7

18 Toro Rosso Ferrari Jean-Eric Vergne 7 

19 Toro Rosso Ferrari Daniel Ricciardo 7

20 Caterham Renault Charles Pic 7

21 Caterham Renault Giedo van der Garde 7

22 Marussia Cosworth Jules Bianchi 7 

23 Marussia Cosworth Max Chilton 7

 

Edited by Cool Beans, 31 October 2013 - 10:12.

[PayasYouRace]

I've always wondered if the track layout is actually supposed to look like a gun? Maybe it's just the Mr Hyde half of my personality seeing what it wants to see though.

 

If you search the archived threads I'm sure there was one on that very subject, complete with outrage that Tilke would design such a thing in that part of the world. Then someone pointed out that Spa looks like a submachine gun.

[Cool Beans]

Here's a comprehensive schedule for the weekend, for the people who are obsessed with details.

 

[Seanspeed]

And number of new engines used up until this race:

 

01 Red Bull Racing Renault Sebastian Vettel 7

02 Red Bull Racing Renault Mark Webber 7

03 Ferrari Fernando Alonso 7 

04 Ferrari Felipe Massa 7

05 McLaren Mercedes Jenson Button 8

06 McLaren Mercedes Sergio Perez Mendoza 8

07 Lotus Renault Kimi Räikkönen 7

08 Lotus Renault Romain Grosjean 7

09 Mercedes Nico Rosberg 8 

10 Mercedes Lewis Hamilton 8

11 Sauber Ferrari Nico Hülkenberg 7

12 Sauber Ferrari Esteban Gutierrez 7

14 Force India Mercedes Paul Di Resta 8

15 Force India Mercedes Adrian Sutil 8

16 Williams Renault Pastor Maldonado 7

17 Williams Renault Valtteri Bottas 7

18 Toro Rosso Ferrari Jean-Eric Vergne 7 

19 Toro Rosso Ferrari Daniel Ricciardo 7

20 Caterham Renault Charles Pic 7

21 Caterham Renault Giedo van der Garde 7

22 Marussia Cosworth Jules Bianchi 7 

23 Marussia Cosworth Max Chilton 7

 

Engines have really become a non-issue this year.  Its quite amazing what the teams can accomplish if you just tighten the leash a little bit.

[ArkZ]

Hey do you got info about which engine was used in each race?, there was a graphic year or two ago.

[Shiroo]

Engines have really become a non-issue this year.  Its quite amazing what the teams can accomplish if you just tighten the leash a little bit.

 

what is interesting. The pattern. Every Mercedes powered team already used 8 

[AvranaKern]

Mercedes powered cars used 8th engine, whereas others used 7th. Not that it matters something, but I wanted to point it out. And if I were Sergio, I would use Mendoza. Much cooler.

[icecream]

Engines have really become a non-issue this year.  Its quite amazing what the teams can accomplish if you just tighten the leash a little bit.

 

also, with the current tyres, the cars are pushed much less, so engines last longer. 

[apoka]

what is interesting. The pattern. Every Mercedes powered team already used 8 

 

It might be that they all follow the same advice by Mercedes. After all, it is more a strategically thing where to use a fresh engine as we haven't seen engines blowing up frequently this season. As long as the used engines still have enough lifetime, there shouldn't be issues for Mercedes.

[RB1]

http://www.autosport...t.php/id/110995

 

"If two cars are in close proximity entering Turn 8 and, by cutting behind the apex of Turn 9, the leading one rejoins the track with a greater lead over the following car he will be reported to the stewards as having gained an advantage by leaving the track.

"This will apply whether or not the advantage gained had any influence upon the operations of the DRS by the driver in the following car.

"If two cars are in close proximity entering Turn 8 and, by cutting behind the apex of Turn 9, the following one rejoins the track within DRS detection distance of the leading car that drivers may not deploy his DRS in the following activation sector.

"Any driver seen to be using his DRS under these circumstances will be reported to the stewards as having gained an advantage by leaving the track."

 

 

Looks like the track limits are going to be enforced this weekend.

[Cool Beans]

Hey do you got info about which engine was used in each race?, there was a graphic year or two ago.

Nope. Best I could do is a list of races when a driver used a new or old engine, but tracking the races a specific engine does just sin't easily available.

[Nonesuch]

http://www.autosport...t.php/id/110995

 

 

Looks like the track limits are going to be enforced this weekend.

 

Perhaps. The insistence on DRS seems it'll be mostly limited to those circumstances, but we can hope!  

[OO7]

Mercedes powered cars used 8th engine, whereas others used 7th. Not that it matters something, but I wanted to point it out. And if I were Sergio, I would use Mendoza. Much cooler.

Qué? 

[AvranaKern]

Qué? 

 

Because to my taste it is a much cooler word to utter. And have a nicer phonetic, again to my taste.

[Timothy]

What are the tyre compounds used for this weekend?

[mangeliiito]

What are the tyre compounds used for this weekend?

Soft and medium, just like last week.

[Owen]

Soft. Wonder how long that will last?

[Jon83]

Perhaps. The insistence on DRS seems it'll be mostly limited to those circumstances, but we can hope!

 

As long as people who make honest mistakes are not forced to give up positions or given penalties.

[mangeliiito]

Soft. Wonder how long that will last?

The poor GP2 guys have to drive on super softs!