2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Discussion Thread

Post by **Nuppiz** » 13 Nov 2010, 13:48

How nostalgic: it can be clearly heard that the Finnish commentators' voice comes through a phone, and not through a direct voice link like they usually have. The only time I've heard this previously was when they re-broadcasted the 1994 Japanese GP with original commentary. Possibly the voice link is broken or something.

the Masked Lapwing · Post by **the Masked Lapwing** » 13 Nov 2010, 14:02

F-ing bathplug s**t c**p!!

Shizuka · Post by **Shizuka** » 13 Nov 2010, 14:03

Webber needs luck, good speed and Vettel to win the WDC now...

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 13 Nov 2010, 14:04

Mark, everyone is faster than you. I repeat, everyone is faster than you. Can you confirm you understand the message?

Ferrim · Post by **Ferrim** » 13 Nov 2010, 14:04

Conspiracy theories "Red Bull sabotaged Webber" going on from now.

Shizuka · Post by **Shizuka** » 13 Nov 2010, 14:07

Webber in the interview now seems to be confident, but his mindset seems to be a bit fragile now.

Paul Hayes · Post by **Paul Hayes** » 13 Nov 2010, 14:09

I don't think you could have sat down and planned a better grid for the title finale than that. The McLarens are looking like the jokers in the pack here - Webber is going to have to try and fight his way past both them and Alonso if he wants to win the title. But I just can't believe it will be a simple and straight-forward race: Vettel might scurry off into the distance, but I think there will be drama behind.

Just seeing the weigh-in at the end gave a sense of the great cast for this one - the old campaigners, Barrichello and Schumacher, the championship chargers, young drivers, old drivers, drivers taking their last chance perhaps... Fantastic.

I cannot wait.

Ferrim · Post by **Ferrim** » 13 Nov 2010, 14:15

And Barrichello giving Williams food for thought again...

Ed24 · Post by **Ed24** » 13 Nov 2010, 14:49

Ferrim wrote:And Barrichello giving Williams food for thought again...

yes, it was very disappointing for Hulkenberg - 1 second behind Barrichello.

There were quite a few surprising team results today, with Schumacher beating Rosberg again (good signs for 2011 based on the last 4 races) and Petrov (probably just enough to keep his drive for next year if he doesn't put it in the wall tomorrow) beating Kubica.

Myrvold · Post by **Myrvold** » 13 Nov 2010, 16:15

Now, as I have said before, this can be a huge anti-climax.

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 13 Nov 2010, 16:16

Anybody else got the feeling that Webber has decided on his head that he's lost it, and just wants this Championship to be over quickly so he can go and hide under a rock somewhere?

patrick · Post by **patrick** » 13 Nov 2010, 16:38

CarlosFerreira wrote:Anybody else got the feeling that Webber has decided on his head that he's lost it, and just wants this Championship to be over quickly so he can go and hide under a rock somewhere?

Yeah maybe. I really get the impression the one thing that gets to him most is himself. He just beats himself up over stuff, it was like he didn't even try to beat seb in qualifying. Don't get me wrong he's one of the top three drivers of the season but he just doesn't seem to try and create opportunities, more exploit them when they present themselves - Hungary is an example of that.

Waris · Post by **Waris** » 13 Nov 2010, 16:45

Oh, dear. I am the stupidest ..... in the universe. I missed quali, because it said it was going to be at 5p.m. and somehow, I managed to take that as 5p.m. my time. -______-'

Is it my fault that Webber has only qualified fifth now?

Post by **mario** » 13 Nov 2010, 17:30

patrick wrote:
CarlosFerreira wrote:Anybody else got the feeling that Webber has decided on his head that he's lost it, and just wants this Championship to be over quickly so he can go and hide under a rock somewhere?

Yeah maybe. I really get the impression the one thing that gets to him most is himself. He just beats himself up over stuff, it was like he didn't even try to beat seb in qualifying. Don't get me wrong he's one of the top three drivers of the season but he just doesn't seem to try and create opportunities, more exploit them when they present themselves - Hungary is an example of that.

Hmm, recently he has looked like a man who is not confident - for the latter part of this season, it seems as if the wind has been taken out of his sails, and especially in the last two races. Perhaps the Korean GP was the worst mental stumbling block, and the first thing Mark wanted to do was bolt for the exit.

By comparison, Vettel's engine blow up was a peculiar twist of fate; yet Vettel went to the team to rally them (incidentally, Kravitz did point out that Helmut Marko should not have been there to meet Vettel, as he didn't have the authorization from FOM to be there). Recently, too, Webber has been estranged from the team - he stays up on the pit wall, whilst Vettel is hanging out with the mechanics in the garage, and Mark is mostly talking with just his race engineers and technicians. So, weirdly in some ways, whilst there are mathematically four drivers in contention, it seems that mentally there are only three out there who believe that they can win it.

On another note, there have been a few reprimands and small fines levied post qualifying - Glock and Kobayashi have been fined for speeding (€600 for Glock for being 2.4kph over the limit, and 400 for Kobayashi for straying 1.3kph over the limit). Both Massa and Barrichello were called to the stewards office over an incident in Turns 6 and 7, which ended with no further action, and although there has been no official confirmation, it appears that the incident between Massa and Hamilton will also not be taken any further.

Paul Hayes · Post by **Paul Hayes** » 13 Nov 2010, 17:54

If Hamilton gets to the first corner ahead of Vettel tomorrow, I think we'll have a hell of a race on our hands. I know he's fast, but I still think Vettel will run away and hide if he gets away cleanly. Webber's best hope must be for Button to get the jump on Alonso, and him getting ahead of both of them. Not likely, but not impossible either.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 13 Nov 2010, 18:30

Knowing the history between McLaren and Ferrari, and their relative positions after qualifying, might McLaren try helping Red Bull capture the title from Alonso once it is clear that Hamilton himself can't win it? After all, didn't McLaren try helping Villeneuve beat Schumi's Ferrari at Jerez in 1997?

Mister Fungus · Post by **Mister Fungus** » 13 Nov 2010, 18:53

I just hope Kobayashi won't pull a Norberto Fontana

Paul Hayes · Post by **Paul Hayes** » 13 Nov 2010, 20:29

dr-baker wrote:Knowing the history between McLaren and Ferrari, and their relative positions after qualifying, might McLaren try helping Red Bull capture the title from Alonso once it is clear that Hamilton himself can't win it? After all, didn't McLaren try helping Villeneuve beat Schumi's Ferrari at Jerez in 1997?

McLaren and Williams certainly had some sort of "arrangement" at Jerez, yes. But whether it was pre-planned or was worked out during the race, I'm not sure. I seem to recall Patrick Head being seen walking down to the McLaren pit during the race?

thehemogoblin · Post by **thehemogoblin** » 13 Nov 2010, 20:34

If Webber's car sucks ass, is he enough of a team player to just drive straight through turn one and take out the Ferrari in front of him and leave Hamilton and Vettel to fight for the title?

Archie2K · Post by **Archie2K** » 13 Nov 2010, 21:21

Wizzie wrote:I'm guessing Bahrain and either Spain, Europe or Hungary.

Bahrain and Britain by my recollection.

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 13 Nov 2010, 21:35

thehemogoblin wrote:If Webber's car sucks ass, is he enough of a team player to just drive straight through turn one and take out the Ferrari in front of him and leave Hamilton and Vettel to fight for the title?

Conspiracy Theorists, climb up a ladder.

Bleu · Post by **Bleu** » 14 Nov 2010, 07:38

If we are in a situation (it looks more unlikely after qualifying though) where Vettel leads with Webber 2nd and Alonso right behind him in 3rd, just see if Vettel can do like Irvine did in 1997. That was a brilliant move how he let Schumacher pass and kept Villeneuve behind in S curves of Suzuka.

Aerond · Post by **Aerond** » 14 Nov 2010, 10:12

Paul Hayes wrote:
dr-baker wrote:Knowing the history between McLaren and Ferrari, and their relative positions after qualifying, might McLaren try helping Red Bull capture the title from Alonso once it is clear that Hamilton himself can't win it? After all, didn't McLaren try helping Villeneuve beat Schumi's Ferrari at Jerez in 1997?

McLaren and Williams certainly had some sort of "arrangement" at Jerez, yes. But whether it was pre-planned or was worked out during the race, I'm not sure. I seem to recall Patrick Head being seen walking down to the McLaren pit during the race?

Yeah, probably after Schumacher´s retirement. The conversation must have started up like this;

DENNIS; "Hey, Patrick, we would like to win this one"
HEAD; "That´s if your cars last until the end of the race"

P_Friesacher · Post by **P_Friesacher** » 14 Nov 2010, 12:38

BBC just now "The best season Grand Prix racing has ever produced" - that could only be beacause it features Kobayashi!

F1000X · Post by **F1000X** » 14 Nov 2010, 12:44

I wonder when and how many times each of the 3 likely WDC winners has thrown up today.

Paul Hayes · Post by **Paul Hayes** » 14 Nov 2010, 12:51

Okay, here we go, final prediction:

I want Webber to take the title... But I have a feeling in my bones that it will come together for Vettel, somehow or other.

Warren Hughes · Post by **Warren Hughes** » 14 Nov 2010, 13:00

Formation lap, here we go people!

F1000X · Post by **F1000X** » 14 Nov 2010, 13:03

Win it Webber. Don't let Ferrari take what is yours.

WeirdKerr · Post by **WeirdKerr** » 14 Nov 2010, 13:05

lol luizzi

GwilymJJames · Post by **GwilymJJames** » 14 Nov 2010, 13:05

That was Vitantonio Liuzzi's F1 career.

Henrique · Post by **Henrique** » 14 Nov 2010, 13:06

Those two of all people

Warren Hughes · Post by **Warren Hughes** » 14 Nov 2010, 13:06

Schumacher very lucky, Liuzzi so close to his head. Drivers pouring in for pitstops

Benetton · Post by **Benetton** » 14 Nov 2010, 13:07

Can't see how something would happen to Alonso. He'll once again win the title when his car wasn't the fastest in the field, and that's applaudable.

Webber needs to risk it from the start. Has nothing to loose, same with Ham.

F1000X · Post by **F1000X** » 14 Nov 2010, 13:08

7 World Championships, and he could only manage 5 turns.

Warren Hughes · Post by **Warren Hughes** » 14 Nov 2010, 13:12

Cracking start by Button to get ahead of Alonso. Should be interesting if Webber gets close enough to challenge him.

F1000X · Post by **F1000X** » 14 Nov 2010, 13:17

I'm just waiting for Massa to have "braking difficulties."

Henrique · Post by **Henrique** » 14 Nov 2010, 13:23

Wow, Webber touched the wall there.

F1000X · Post by **F1000X** » 14 Nov 2010, 13:30

bathplug Jaime Alguersuari. I hope he loses his seat.

GwilymJJames · Post by **GwilymJJames** » 14 Nov 2010, 13:30

That was Mark Webber's 2010 Championship Challenge.

Sauber010 · Post by **Sauber010** » 14 Nov 2010, 13:37

So Torro Rosso will now have lost an engine manufacturer, and probably every cent of Red Bull dollars, could they possibly be the F1 Rejects story of the off season?