(Warning: reasonably long post)
The F1 fraternity bids farewell to the 2019 season this weekend in Abu Dhabi. After 8 months of non-stop action, the show draws to a close. 257 days since Australia FP1, it's been a journey of anticipation, hope, thrill, joy, but also angst and tragedy.
The 198th and last race of the 2010s, also the final F1 race for Nico Hulkenberg and Robert Kubica.
In a weeks' time the sporting world will be treated to the Clash on the Dunes, but for now we'll make do with the Dead-rubber in the Desert!
Welcome to Round 21 (twenty-one!) of the 2019 Formula One World Championship
How did we get here? (for those who haven't been watching!!)
February/March - The chilly Catalunya winds whispered the beginnings of change, only for hopes to be dramatically dashed with a chronic case of Australian deja-vu and Bahraini fever. Mercedes domination, Ferrari implosion, Bottas 2.0, and to whom it may concern: R.I.P. Charlie.
April/May - The smoggy Chinese air clouded Ferrari's vision as the tensions started to build. Or maybe it was the setting Baku sun? - and remember that pesky drain cover? Mercedes remained peerless as the opposition could barely muster a challenge. Hamilton stole a precious Monaco pole and defied the odds (sort of) against Verstappen, a precursor to their growing rivalry. Leclerc crashed in Baku qualifying and was bumped out of Q1 at his home race. Red Bull stuttered. Vettel could not shake his 2018 hangover. But it was an icon of Ferrari-past and Mercedes-present that left us truly stunned, again. R.I.P. Niki.
June/July - The season jolted into life with a string of fantastic races. Vettel was denied his first win of the year after intense controversy in Canada. Verstappen produced one of the drives of the year to win in Austria. Hamilton cantered to another Silverstone victory, in the shadow of a ridiculous Leclerc/Verstappen battle. This crazy period of races concluded with an even crazier German GP with standout drives from Kvyat, Stroll and Albon. A sole point for Williams. Mercedes was befallen by the Netflix-curse and experienced 125 years of embarrassment in 2 hours. The contrast in the Ferrari garage was yet to reach crescendo despite another Leclerc crash, and another Vettel error.
August/September pt 1. - The Hamilton/Verstappen duel was reignited with episode II in Hungary. Ferrari's season nadir. Carlos Sainz underlined his how much of a smooooooooth operator he really was. Gasly was unceremoniously booted from Red Bull, in favour of the emerging Albon. Summer break. Leclerc finally got it right with a bittersweet debut win in Belgium, but then backed it up with euphoric victory in Monza. The Ferrari garage finally reached peak contrast as Vettel ignominiously spun. A gut-wrenching tragedy in the Belgian Ardennes. R.I.P. Anthoine.
September pt.2/October - Ferrari's update shocked the paddock, but not as much as Vettel's Singapore undercut shocked Leclerc. Back to normality in Russia, Ferrari shot themselves in the foot after start-light shenanigans, the ever-present Hamilton ready to pick up the scraps. A typhoon condensed the Japanese weekend and an early chequered flag condensed an anti-climatic race.
Mercedes crowned Constructors' champions.
November - Hamilton seals the championship in the US, Verstappen steals acclaim in Brazil. Ferrari come to blows. Gasly completes his redemption arc. McLaren finally (finally!) back on the podium.
That's how we got here.
Okay, but there's still one race to go ...
Yes, fine, okay. Boring graphic time.
Unnamed road Hamilton Highway? Bottas Boulevard? Albon Avenue?
Schedule
Regular F1 timing, Bernie-era. Same times as Singapore this year, for example.
UK // CET
FP1 0900 // 1000
FP2 1300 // 1400
FP3 1000 // 1100
Q 1300 // 1400
R 1310 // 1410
Talking Points
Toto is back for Mercedes, can they rebound from their Brazil horror-show?
Have Ferrari cleared the air sufficiently for a final 2019 hurrah?
Can Red Bull underline their 2020 aspirations? Can Albon take it to Max at a circuit he's familar and historically quick at?
Can Toro Rosso somehow steal P5 from Renault in the Constructors?
Come on, what are we actually doing here?
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Assorted season memories, Liberty Media memes and Pirelli Tyre Test predictions welcome below
Edited by TomNokoe, 28 November 2019 - 11:09.