**** Abu Dhabi Grand Prix **** (contains spoilers)

[Tony2or4]

Sir Bagalot said:

Impasse said:

HarryW said:

FourWheelDrift said:

hdrflow said:

Thought was Hamilton's brother girlfriend.

Mel Grevett.

I might be completely out of touch, but how do you know that........

/pedant/ Grevatt. She's a Twitterer, fill yer boots. https://twitter.com/melgrevatt

Stalker Alert

But who is Mel Grevett? I've never heard of her.

[Hungrymc]

I've watched a mix of sky and bbc this year. Sky has more depth but there is nothing wrong with the BBC coverage that a couple of mins with EJ and a cricket bat wouldn't fix.

It's been a great season. The record books won't give any indication of how close it was. Lewis has driven brilliantly and been very mature (targeting race pace over qualifying pace etc). Nico has been a very strong challenger and things didn't have to work out much different for him to be the WDC. The redbull battle has been fun and it's great to see Williams start to look good. But McLaren still a shambles, I really can't see that team getting it back together, bad decision, too much politics, too many mistakes, will take years to fix the culture in that team.

[FourWheelDrift]

GCH said:

FIA gives the option of using #1 or their driver number, so it is up to hamilton.. Of course, whether mercedes will push the issue is another story

Hamilton could keep his 44 on the car but carry a "I'm number 1, so why try harder" written on the back of his rear wing, just for Nico

[CharlesAL]

Since I've been watching F1 only a few short year, Fernando Alonso has always been known as the most complete driver. I think Lewis Hamilton can rival him now. What hasn't he got, really?

[Crafty_]

Lincsblokey said:

Crafty_ said:

$6m USD isn't £30m though?

The 30m figure is widely reported, and by very reliable outlets too.

So was Brawn to Ferrari, several times. As was the "Alonso to be announced at McLaren this week" and "Merc want Rosberg to win" and "Berger to replace Ron Dennis" and god knows how many other bits of conjecture.

30m might be true, it might not, but I doubt we'd ever find out.

If someone is playing the other £26m they certainly aren't getting much for it as the car carries few sponsors.

[Jasandjules]

Well now that was f***ng exciting.

I think Lewis had the best start of the season there - Alonso like. I wonder if Nico had engine problems right from the off?!

Kind of tragic that Nico had an ERS problem though, but I am seriously impressed that he basically said even without it Lewis was going to win. And even more Kudos for wanting to finish the race on track, not to mention going to congratulate Lewis in the room. His post race interview made it sound to me like he knows Lewis is the better racer and he is going to have the same problem next year.

Some good scraps up the field too.

Am I the only one who thought Massa was never going to pass Lewis, too many laps on those tyres to start with, and Lewis isn't exactly easy to get past. Did love the way Lewis said I can keep him behind me, then slams in a stonking lap with the engine still turned down!

I wonder if JB has just secured his drive next year with the many millions he just got the team with his place today!?!?!?

And now I can't wait for next season, will Vettel compete with his teammate? If not, well, I think his card will be marked as "can only do well with by far the best car on the grid".. Ok, maybe two years, one season to settle into the team.

Anyone know why the Lotus boys were quite so delighted with the Maldonado portable BBQ car?!


ETA - oh and I was pretty disappointed with Brundle for ribbing Massa on the podium. Not often I would ever say that.

Edited by Jasandjules on Sunday 23 November 18:20

[PhillipM]

CharlesAL said:

Since I've been watching F1 only a few short year, Fernando Alonso has always been known as the most complete driver. I think Lewis Hamilton can rival him now. What hasn't he got, really?

Not a lot to be honest, perhaps a little more experience for judgement calls on tyre stops is the only thing where he's still surpassed by a few.

He has the race pace, the racecraft, the overtaking ability (and, this season, demonstrated that not only does he have it, but he can wait to deploy it in the right spot without risking the car), qualifying speed and has tyre and fuel preservation nailed down.

[Oldwolf]

CharlesAL said:

Since I've been watching F1 only a few short year, Fernando Alonso has always been known as the most complete driver. I think Lewis Hamilton can rival him now. What hasn't he got, really?

This is a very interesting comment, for quite a few years Fred would have been in my dream team but this year I think that Lewis has really raised his game to challenge Fred for most complete driver.

If he can just sort his qualifying out next year ;-) (because this year he's only World Champion!)

OW

[mollytherocker]

Kaiser_Wull said:

I suspect that Mercedes will want #1 to adorn Lewis's car next season.

Lewis wants 44. What Lewis wants Lewis gets....

[PhillipM]

Oldwolf said:

If he can just sort his qualifying out next year ;-) (because this year he's only World Champion!)

I don't think he did too bad at qualy this year given the incidents and issues

[IainT]

mollytherocker said:

Kaiser_Wull said:

I suspect that Mercedes will want #1 to adorn Lewis's car next season.

Lewis wants 44. What Lewis wants Lewis gets....

Lewis' comments made it clear that he recognised that the team might have a say on that but that he has a very strong preference.

From a Mercedes marketing perspective #1 on their car is probably a big thing.

[ZX10R NIN]

Hungrymc said:

I've watched a mix of sky and bbc this year. Sky has more depth but there is nothing wrong with the BBC coverage that a couple of mins with EJ and a cricket bat wouldn't fix.

It's been a great season. The record books won't give any indication of how close it was. Lewis has driven brilliantly and been very mature (targeting race pace over qualifying pace etc). Nico has been a very strong challenger and things didn't have to work out much different for him to be the WDC. The redbull battle has been fun and it's great to see Williams start to look good. But McLaren still a shambles, I really can't see that team getting it back together, bad decision, too much politics, too many mistakes, will take years to fix the culture in that team.

I think the most consistent driver won today, but at the same time big kudos to Rosberg he's been more of an opponent than I gave him credit for at the start of the season.

Riccardo has done the business on Vettel this season,I think this has more to do with Vettel trying to make the car closer to what he had in 2013 rather than dealing with what he had in front of him.

Ferrari funny how Kimi starts to come good when Ferrari actually start listening to what he needs, as for Alonso he has given everything & dragged that car far higher than it had any right to be.

Mclaren were a farce from start to finish (Button deserved better)

As for those who lost their jobs deepest sympathies hopefully something will work out with at least one of the teams.

Finally Hamilton you are the best.

[karona]

Confirmed starting from the pit lane with the Brazilian GP wings fitted, because the stewards "weren't happy" with a "thin metal retainer" fitted to the top of the wing.

[Crafty_]

Jasandjules said:

Well now that was f***ng exciting.

I think Lewis had the best start of the season there - Alonso like. I wonder if Nico had engine problems right from the off?!

Rosberg did an extra quick lap on his start tyres, also Sky observed that shortly before the race the even side of the grid had the sun on it for much longer as the sun went down. How much effect these things had I'm not sure but they are liekly to have made some difference.

On the formation lap Lewis reported the clutch was okay, but launch revs were low, this might have helped him get away with no wheel spin.
If you watch the replay Rosberg was a bit tardy off the line and then got wheelspin, leaving two black lines on the track in the second phase.

Jasandjules said:

Well now that was f***ng exciting.

Anyone know why the Lotus boys were quite so delighted with the Maldonado portable BBQ car?!

Given the season they've had with that car there isn't much else you can do but laugh.

IIRC in 2007 or 2008 the Honda was so bad the mechanics taped a lighter in to the cockpit and left a note saying "use this after race" at the final round.

[EskimoArapaho]

Kaiser_Wull said:

I suspect that Mercedes will want #1 to adorn Lewis's car next season.

Maybe, but Mercedes F1 team at least seems to relish LH's karting history: https://twitter.com/MercedesAMGF1/status/536579758...

[Gary C]

ZX10R NIN said:

Hungrymc said:

I've watched a mix of sky and bbc this year. Sky has more depth but there is nothing wrong with the BBC coverage that a couple of mins with EJ and a cricket bat wouldn't fix.

It's been a great season. The record books won't give any indication of how close it was. Lewis has driven brilliantly and been very mature (targeting race pace over qualifying pace etc). Nico has been a very strong challenger and things didn't have to work out much different for him to be the WDC. The redbull battle has been fun and it's great to see Williams start to look good. But McLaren still a shambles, I really can't see that team getting it back together, bad decision, too much politics, too many mistakes, will take years to fix the culture in that team.

I think the most consistent driver won today, but at the same time big kudos to Rosberg he's been more of an opponent than I gave him credit for at the start of the season.

Riccardo has done the business on Vettel this season,I think this has more to do with Vettel trying to make the car closer to what he had in 2013 rather than dealing with what he had in front of him.

Ferrari funny how Kimi starts to come good when Ferrari actually start listening to what he needs, as for Alonso he has given everything & dragged that car far higher than it had any right to be.

Mclaren were a farce from start to finish (Button deserved better)

As for those who lost their jobs deepest sympathies hopefully something will work out with at least one of the teams.

Finally Hamilton you are the best.

Wow, late back to this thread, just got back to the hotel as stopped for something to eat on the way back from the track.

What a race, loads of overtaking to see, great atmosphere and even some of the Germans in our stand clapped lewis. Very nervous for the first 20 laps as it was hard to keep tabs on things without sky's fantastic coverage.

The drive past of all the marshals and recovery vehicles after the race was fun. Lots of shiny Tonka toys

Abu Dhabi was worth going to, and to see a worthy champion crowned was the icing on the cake. Very good of rosberg to go to the post race room to congratulate hamilton as he didn't have to do that.

This is only the second ever race my wife has watched, last time was Brazil in 2008, and we know how that one worked out too. Well done Lewis.

[Mermaid]

hora said:

Theres been a Lewis Hamilton champ sticker on my car since he won last time. His skill is smooth then fast then ragged- never complete. Just raw talent. Weird and mad that hes kept that talent for so long. In 2014 he matured. I can see a third title in 2015/2016 as a double title gives him assurance after the lost years.
Watch this space. We have a British world champion. **** -yeah. Time to get pissed
On another note - will he buy another chain? Wtf. The anti-corporate image fool

He will probably get another honours title soon.

[Crafty_]

Gary C said:

This is only the second ever race my wife has watched, last time was Brazil in 2008, and we know how that one worked out too. Well done Lewis.

Can you book her a ticket to Abu Dhabi 2015, just in case Lewis needs a good luck charm ?

[rpgk]

Digitalize said:

Likelyhood that Lewis would have congratulated Nico if he was champion? Probably less than zero.

Pfffff!

[ZX10R NIN]

rpgk said:

Digitalize said:

Likelyhood that Lewis would have congratulated Nico if he was champion? Probably less than zero.

Pfffff!

Lewis would never have been as graceful in defeat but that's one of the differences between them both