2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Predicament Predictions!

[Rob Dylan]

Come and join us for the last waltz. After 21 rounds we are finally at the final, the 22nd, the grand finale of this year's F1 season but more importantly Predicament Predictions season. We are at the end-point of what promises to be a very close finish judging by the current scores counted up from 17 rounds. As those scores get eventually counted up and organised, let's jump into this here event.

So as always, anyone entering who hasn't used double points before will have it activated automatically for them. And so, as always we predict this race to be a bit of a high-scoring round all things considered. Rules are in the Bahrain thread earlier this year, or you can just ask here / DM me. The blank slate for predicting is below:


1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Pole:
Fastest lap:
First retirement:
Reject of the Race:
Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race:
Deadbeat Teammate of the Race:
Last Place:
How Far Back:




For my final prediction of the year, I will guess that we will have a Noah's Ark grand prix all the way to the end. Farewell 2022.

1. Sergio Perez
2. Max Verstappen
3. Charles Leclerc
4. Carlos Sainz Jr.
5. George Russell
6. Lewis Hamilton
7. Fernando Alonso
8. Esteban Ocon
9. Lando Norris
10. Daniel Ricciardo

Pole: Max Verstappen
Fastest lap: Max Verstappen
First retirement: None
Reject of the Race: the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (absolutely nothing happened besides the Red Bulls swapping places)
Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race: Max Verstappen for voluntarily giving Perez a win after the Brazil shenanigans
Deadbeat Teammate of the Race: Nicholas Latifi
Last Place: Nicholas Latifi
How Far Back: 1 lap

Good luck everyone. Remember to get your predictions in before the end of FP3 on Saturday to avoid any penalties

[rachel1990]

The 2022 will max help Sergio GP (spoilers. No point as there is too much of a buffer)


1. Max Verstappen
2. Sergio Perez
3. Lewis Hamilton ( no win in 2022 breaking the streak)
4. Carlos Sainz Jr.
5. Charles Leclerc
6. George Russell
7. Fernando Alonso
8. Lando Norris
9. Sebastian Vettel
10. Lance Stroll

Pole: Max Verstappen
Fastest lap: Max Verstappen
First retirement: Mick Schumacher
Reject of the Race: Mick Schumacher- knowing he is going anyway he bins it again.
Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race: Sebastian Vettel
Deadbeat Teammate of the Race: Nicholas Latifi. Again.
Last Place: Nicholas Latifi
How Far Back: 1 lap

[Enforcer]

2022 It's finally feckin over, thank God Grand Prix.


1. Verstappen
2. Russell
3. Perez
4. Leclerc
5. Hamilton
6. Sainz
7. Norris
8. Alonso
9. Vettel
10. Ocon

Pole: Max Verstappen
Fastest lap: Max Verstappen
First retirement: Alex Albon
Reject of the Race: Ferrari. Somehow they'll screw up 2nd for Leclerc.
Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race: Sebastian Vettel
Deadbeat Teammate of the Race: Riccoardp
Last Place: Lastifi
HFB: 0 laps.

[Hermann95]

1. Verstappen
2. Hamilton
3. Russell
4. Perez
5. Leclerc
6. Sainz
7. Alonso
8. Norris
9. Ocon
10. Vettel

Pole: Verstappen
Fastest lap: Verstappen
First retirement: Tsunoda
ROTR: Ferrari
IIDOTR: Alonso
DBTMOR: Stroll
Last Place: Latifi
HFB: 2 laps

[Klon]

2022 Like Sebastian Vettel This is My Last Grand Prix ... Grand Prix

1. Max Verstappen
2. Sir Lewis Hamilton
3. Sergio Pérez
4. Charles Leclerc
5. George Russell
6. Carlos Sainz, Jr.
7. Esteban Ocon
8. Guanyu Zhou
9. Lando Norris
10. Fernando Alonso

Pole: Max Verstappen
Fastest Lap: Charles Leclerc
First Retirement: Valtteri Bottas
Reject of the Race: Race Control (Safety car nonsense leads to repeat of last year's last lap)
Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race: Guanyu Zhou (secures Alfa Romeo's WCC position with a surprisingly good safety car restart)
Deadbeat Teammate of the Race: Sergio Perez
Last Place: Nicholas Latifi
How Far Back: 1 Lap

[Alextrax52]

2022 The race where we do the farewell’s GP

1: Verstappen
2: Russell
3: Hamilton
4: Leclerc
5: Perez
6: Sainz
7: Alonso
8: Norris
9: Vettel
10: Gasly

Pole: Verstappen
Fastest Lap: Verstappen
First Retirement: Tsunoda
ROTR: Haas
IIDOTR: Vettel
DBTMOTR: Ricciardo
Last Place: Latifi
How far back: 1 minute

[RAK]

2022 "Oh Wow, It's Finally Over" Grand Prix

1) Verstappen
2) Hamilton
3) Russell
4) Perez
5) Leclerc
6) Sainz
7) Alonso
8) Norris
9) Bottas
10) Vettel

Pole: Verstappen
Fastest Lap: Hamilton
First Retirement: Schumacher
ROTR: Schumacher - a damp squib to his last race for Haas
IIDOTR: Latifi
DBTMOTR: Ocon
LP: Magnussen
HFB: 1 lap

Double Points, obviously

[tommykl]

2022 It's Finally Over and It's Only Getting Worse Grand Prix
1. Verstappen
2. Hamilton
3. Leclerc
4. Pérez
5. Russell
6. Sainz
7. Alonso
8. Ocon
9. Norris
10. Stroll

Pole: Verstappen
Fastest lap: Pérez
First retirement: Gasly
ROTR: Alfa Romeo
IIDOTR: Stroll
DBTMOR: Ricciardo
Last Place: Latifi
HFB: 1 lap

[Bleu]

2022 #DankeSeb Grand Prix
1. Verstappen
2. Hamilton
3. Perez
4. Leclerc
5. Russell
6. Norris
7. Alonso
8. Ocon
9. Bottas
10. Vettel

Pole: Leclerc
Fastest lap: Russell
First retirement: Schumacher
Reject of the Race: Hamilton (late-race mistake allows Verstappen through to end the streak of winning every year)
Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race: Vettel
Deadbeat Teammate of the Race: Ricciardo
Last Place: Latifi
How Far Back: 1 lap

[Londoner]

2022 Sports Lies Cremated Grand Prix

1. Verstappen
2. Russell
3. Perez
4. Hamilton
5. Sainz
6. Ocon
7. Norris
8. Vettel
9. Stroll
10. Zhou

Pole: Verstappen
Fastest lap: Verstappen
First retirement: Leclerc
ROTR: Sport
IIDOTR: Zhou
DBTMOTR: Ricciardo
Last Place: Latifi
How Far Back: 1 lap

[IceG]

The 2022 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

1. Hamilton
2. Verstappen
3. Russell
4. Perez
5. Leclerc
6. Sainz
7. Norris
8. Alonso
9. Ocon
10. Vettel

Pole: Verstappen
Fastest lap: Russell
First retirement: Bottas
Reject of the Race: Ferrari put Sainz' tyres on Leclerc's car whilst he is ahead of Perez
Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race: Both Haas cars score points and my predictions are all wrong
Deadbeat Teammate of the Race: Ricciardo
Last Place: Latifi ("I'll be at the back")
How Far Back: 1 lap

[Fetzie]

2022 Donuts on the tarmac grand prix


1. Hamilton
2. Leclerc
3. Russell
4. Sainz
5. Ocon
6. Norris
7. Perez
8. Alonso
9. Vettel
10. Gasly

Pole: Verstappen
Fastest lap: Russell
First retirement: Verstappen
Reject of the Race: Perez (might have something to do with my first retirement prediction )
Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race: Vettel
Deadbeat Teammate of the Race: Tsunoda
Last Place: Latifi
How Far Back: +2

[mario]

1. Verstappen
2. Russell
3. Perez
4. Hamilton
5. Leclerc
6. Sainz
7. Alonso
8. Norris
9. Ocon
10. Bottas

Pole: Verstappen
Fastest lap: Verstappen
First retirement: Zhou
Reject of the Race: the race itself
Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race: Alonso
Deadbeat Teammate of the Race: Ricciardo
Last Place: Latifi
How Far Back: 1 lap

Guess it is also the time that the double points joker is played - probably won't do much though.

[Aerond]

2022 FINALLY THIS IS OVER GP

1. Max
2. Hamilton
3. Leclerc
4. Sainz
5. Perez
6. Russell
7. Alonso
8. Norris
9. Ocon
10. Stroll

Pole: Max
Fastest lap: Hamilton
First retirement: Vettel
Reject of the Race: Latifi
Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race: Nobody
Deadbeat Teammate of the Race: Latifi
Last Place: Latifi
How Far Back: 1 lap

[pi314159]

1. Hamilton
2. Verstappen
3. Russell
4. Leclerc
5. Perez
6. Sainz
7. Vettel
8. Norris
9. Bottas
10. Zhou

Pole: Hamilton
Fastest lap: Russell
First retirement: Schumacher
Reject of the Race: Gasly
Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race: Vettel
Deadbeat Teammate of the Race: Latifi
Last Place: Latifi
How Far Back: +1 Lap

As Bernie intended, I'll use my double points for the season final at Abu Dhabi.

[dr-baker]

It’s the final countdown GP


1. Hamilton
2. Verstappen
3. Russell
4. Leclerc
5. Perez
6. Sainz
7. Ocon
8. Norris
9. Alonso
10. Magnussen

Pole: Verstappen
Fastest lap: Perez
First retirement: Ricciardo. Oh from the race, not the sport? I’ll still say Ricciardo.
Reject of the Race: FIA or race control. Again.
Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race: Albon
Deadbeat Teammate of the Race: Schumacher
Last Place: Latifi
How Far Back: 1 lap

[Rob Dylan]

What a finish. In a year that was very long, we still had a photo finish at the end of it all! So many of you were hesitant the whole year round about using double points in your predictions, and so what happened is that quite a few of us ended up using them by default in the final round, with fascinating results. Five double points users meant that the numbers threw off all initial predictions about who was leading and who might be ahead. Two-time Predicament Predictions champion RAK won the race with an epic 38 points, and this took him from someone who had been on the sidelines to someone now within reach of a championship.


Results
1. RAK 38*
2. mario 32*
- Klon 32*
- tommykl 32*
5. rachel1990 22
- pi314159 22*
7. Enforcer 19
- Aerond 19
9. Freeze-O-Kimi 17
- Bleu 17
- Londoner 17
12. Fetzie 16
13. Hermann95 15
14. Rob Dylan 13
15. IceG 12
16. dr-baker 11
*used double points
**funniest alternative race title award not awarded




Without dropped scores, RAK would have won this championship.


Final Standings
1. Hermann95 295 (307) - best score of 42
2. mario 295 (321) - best score of 32
3. RAK 287 (323)
4. Aerond 275 (309)
5. dr-baker 264 (286)
6. tommykl 262 (281) - best scores of 32-21-20
7. Enforcer 262 (290) - best scores of 32-21-19
8. Batty 251 (259)
9. rachel1990 243 (270) - best score of 24
10. Fetzie 243 (251) - best score of 21
11. IceG 241 (276)
12. Bleu 238 (254)
13. Klon 233 (254) - best score of 32
14. pi314159 233 (246) - best score of 18
15. Rob Dylan 211 (218)
16. Freeze-O-Kimi 204
17. Londoner 190
18. CarloSpace 153
19. yannicksamlad 117
20. takagi_for_the_win 33
21. meatwad 32
22. dj_vicious 22
23. Miguel98 22
24. Frogfoot9013 22
25. DigitDan7 20
26. Aislabie 14
27. CaptainGetz12 14
28. noiceinmydrink 13
29. Vassago 12
30. mash 7


Damn, was it close. I had to go back through every race and check up on who had and had not used double points, while then organising on the spreadsheet just exactly how many points people had after dropping! It took a while, but I am absolutely sure that this is the final and correct standings. We somehow ended on a tie, which I award to Hermann95 on the basis of highest score achieved, which was his 42 points awarded at the Mexican Grand Prix compared to mario's 32 at this race. It's crazy just how close it was in the end, but I am very happy with how this championship turned out with a little more equality given to the runners who couldn't quite do a full season.

I hope you all enjoyed your season, and I hope you were more encouraged this time to take part even if you miss a race or two. After all, it is less this time about how many races you partake in, and more about just how well you actually predict! We will be back in 2023, and as always I will be in touch with the top three from this year about their prizes Have a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, everyone, and see you all for the predicting madness next year

[RAK]

Well, that turned out to be a more effective use of double points than I thought it would be! There was only one other race in the year where I'd have got a better net of points out of using double points and it wouldn't have been enough to swing the balance to the two front runners.

Congratulations to Hermann95 for winning the championship; meanwhile, Mario managed a very strong non-dropped total considering that, IIRC, he missed the Miami GP. Considering that I'm fairly sure I've dropped a couple of places in previous championships (albeit ones where I still wouldn't have been in to win at the end) by missing races, I think that having the flexibility to still compete at the top if one or two races have slipped your mind is fairer, especially in such a long season.