[arun_josie]

Formula 1 - The 2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (November 24th - November 26th):











FIA Thursday press conference



Track Layout





Track Data



World Drivers' Championship Points



World Constructors' Championship Points

Circuit Information:

The circuit is one of very few on the F1 calendar to run in an anti-clockwise direction, and it is also unique as the only track with an underground pit lane. Leaving the track on the right, it crosses underneath and rejoins on the left. Concerns were raised that the tunnel was too narrow and dangerous, and any accidents would be difficult to clear quickly.

Granted the final go-ahead by the FIA in 2009, Bruno Senna was the first driver to complete a test lap during the GP2 testing. When the teams arrived in Abu Dhabi for the season finale in October 2009, not a single driver had driven the track.

Much more spectator-friendly than soulless near-neighbour Bahrain, some drivers have complained the circuit is too safe. "The car can go everywhere, cutting off corners, and you don't ever lose time," moaned Adrian Sutil after the 2009 grand prix. "That can make racing very boring. There's no real flow." Purists also lamented the need to build chicanes on a new track given their only purpose was to slow down cars on existing circuits.

Yas Marina made history when the 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix hosted F1's first day-night race, starting at twilight with the race finishing in the dark. Floodlights were used from the start of the event to illuminate the circuit and ensure a seamless transition from light to dark. Lewis Hamilton started the race on pole but was forced to retire with brake problems. Sebastian Vettel won the race, the fifth victory of his F1 career, beating team-mate Mark Webber and 2009 champion Jenson Button to seal second place in the championship.

Read more at http://en.espnf1.com/unitedarabemira...QgCRyAgYCbi.99

Tyre Selection

The fight for sixth -Toro Rosso(53 points), Renault(49 points) and Haas(47 points):

With the top five places in the constructors' championship set in stone, the interesting part of this race is going to be the fight for sixth position with Toro Rosso, Renault and Haas. They are currently splitted by just 6 points. On the surface, finishing sixth or seventh in the constructors' championship is inconsequential, but for the teams, the difference in prize money -- an estimated £13 million between sixth and eighth position -- is crucial in terms of developing their cars and ensuring they are financially sound.

In terms of pure performance, Renault has led the way since Silverstone and should be comfortably in sixth place. A combination of poor reliability and only having one driver scoring regular points -- up until the U.S. Grand Prix, when Jolyon Palmer was dropped in favour of Carlos Sainz -- has meant Renault sits seventh. Finishing behind Toro Rosso -- which runs the same Renault engine and currently operate on a smaller budget -- would be deemed as a disappointing campaign.

Toro Rosso still maintains sixth place going into Abu Dhabi, despite scoring just one point since Singapore. Awful reliability and regular mid-season driver changes have impacted the Italian squad severely, but despite that it is still in a position to score its best constructors' championship finish since 2008.

Haas is also still in the fight, six points off Toro Rosso and two points behind Renault. Unlike in 2016, Haas has two drivers who have scored points. While the Haas car still doesn't perform consistently compared to its midfield rivals, both Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean have done a solid job in 2017.

So, who is the favourite? Renault needs to out-score Toro Rosso by five points in Abu Dhabi due to the fact Toro Rosso's best finish is a fourth, while Renault's best result is sixth. If Renault was to out-score Toro Rosso by four points, rather than five, then Toro Rosso would finish ahead due to a better result to its name in 2017.

Renault has the strongest package out of all three teams and both Carlos Sainz and Nico Hulkenberg have delivered throughout 2017. As seen in Brazil though, scoring good points can be difficult if the top five teams and McLaren perform as expected. Typically, Haas performs best at low downforce circuits -- Abu Dhabi is a medium downforce circuit, which doesn't rule Haas out entirely but it's hard seeing it outscore Toro Rosso by six points. Renault is in the best position to score points in Abu Dhabi, but with Force India, Williams and McLaren all likely to be in the mix, the French manufacturer faces a big task.

Source: espn.in/f1

[Aditya]

Thanks for sharing!

Sadly, with the top 3 positions in the WDC and WCC more or less decided, there's going to be very little interest in the last race of the season. Still, I hope to see Hamilton, Vettel and others give us a good race to watch. It's also likely to be last time that the cars will look as we have known them. Next year will see the introduction of the halo.

McLaren (and Alonso) will sure be glad that the season is drawing to a close. It has been quite a miserable year for them.

[glikithvinayaka]

Originally Posted by Aditya

Sadly, with the top 3 positions in the WDC and WCC more or less decided, there's going to be very little interest in the last race of the season. Still, I hope to see Hamilton, Vettel and others give us a good race to watch. It's also likely to be last time that the cars will look as we have known them. Next year will see the introduction of the halo.

I'm excited to watch Danny Ric and Kimi fight for 4th position, only 7 points separating them with Ricciardo ahead. Hope kimi will fight it out.

[glikithvinayaka]

If first practice was anything to go by, this Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is going to be another closely-contested affair. Sebastian Vettel topped the session, Lewis Hamilton was only a tenth behind, and Max Verstappen just another tenth adrift.

[arun_josie]

Free Practice 1 - It looks to be another Hamilton - Vettel fight for P1

[arun_josie]

Free Practice 2 - Hamilton and Vettel on top during FP 2 as well. Bottas is struggling.

[glikithvinayaka]

After Friday's incredibly tight sessions, Mercedes pulled a small gap on their rivals in Saturday afternoon's running at Yas Marina. Lewis Hamilton led the way from team mate Valtteri Bottas, with the Ferraris of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel half a second down.
Must be a close qualifying session.

[glikithvinayaka]

Mercedes dominates the Qualifying in Abu Dhabi with Valtteri Bottas taking pole and teammate Lewis Hamilton taking P2 followed by Vettel in P3.

[glikithvinayaka]

Perfect weekend for Valtteri Bottas taking the Pole, Race win and the fastest lap, great work from him!Showing he can take on Lewis in a straight fight. Lewis Hamilton finished P2 followed by Sebastian Vettel in P3.
Daniel Ricciardo experiencing a hydraulic failure and having to DNF, Kimi takes P4 in the race and World Drivers Championship.
Lastly Felipe Massa finishes in points at P10 for the last time and with some beautiful Donuts.

[shibujp]

What a win for Bottas. A grand slam!! Pole, Winner and fastest lap of the race. If history is anything to go by, remember that Rosberg started his journey to the championship with a series of wins that started the season before. He really soaked up incredible pressure from Lewis Hamilton managing his pace and his tyres carefully to ensure that Hamilton was never presented a huge chance. He really let loose during the last 5 laps to build up a 5 second gap over his team mate. Hamilton may not be feeling very magnanimous to his team mate this time next year!!

Another driver who managed his pace very well is Raikkonen against Verstappen to hold on to 4th place. Magnussen as a back marker ensured he made yet another driver sour by making it tough for Verstappen to pass him.

McLaren have a good car which was indicated by the way Alonso pulled a gap over Massa once he made that superb pass. How the next season pans with Renault remains to be seen. I am not convinced that Renault is going to be so much of a gain over Honda, as other than the Bulls (which have had their fair share of issues with Renault in terms of reliability) none of their other teams have been very strong in the hybrid era and in 2017. And I don't put it past Honda to build on their relatively successful season finale in 2017 and produce a very strong engine in 2018. The 3 engine rule in 2018 is going to place even more demands on reliability.

Hulkenberg brought home a superb 6th place and a 9 million dollar bonus for his team. Good money to take those power plants a bit further up.

As a Ferrari fan I hope Ferrari takes the fight to Mercedes and Red Bull building on their strong season this year which was a far cry from a dismal 2016 campaign.

Great season!! It had more exciting races than processions. Here's to a great 2018 watching these wonderful machines and the athletes in them.

Drive on,
Shibu.

[sun_king]

Originally Posted by Aditya

Thanks for sharing!

Sadly, with the top 3 positions in the WDC and WCC more or less decided, there's going to be very little interest in the last race of the season.

For me there was, Horner had made the claim that Red Bull will outscore Ferrari in the second half of the season. Going to Abu Dhabi, the "Outscore Championship" was 177 - 174 in favor of Ferrari. This was easily settled in Ferrari's favor by 204 - 184.

Ferrari was never really challenged in terms of pace by Red Bull in the second half of the season. It was Verstappen's elimination of both the Ferrari's in Singapore and the technical disasters of Malaysia and Japan that brought the points closer.

It's also likely to be last time that the cars will look as we have known them. Next year will see the introduction of the halo.

The horror, the horror...

[arun_josie]

Boring race. Some fights in midfield and lower was good. Grosjean Vs Stroll, Alonso Vs Massa and Magnussen Vs Wehrlein etc

Awesome drive by Hulkenberg to take Renault to P6 in constructor championship.

Ricciardo's retirement helped Kimi to get the P4 in drivers championship.

Hope we have some good fights at top, next year.

[sgiitk]

A very dull race. Thank God the season is over. Hope something better comes up next year.