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

[Jasandjules]

RichB said:

Nico's offered Valtteri a "wellness night"

Have to say I thought that was pretty funny given the pressure he must be feeling, he needs the Williams to beat Lewis basically and hope to goodness Lewis doesn't get past him!

[FourWheelDrift]

Ted reminding Eric Boullier at every opportunity how Jenson has outqualified Kevin

[NRS]

Hungrymc said:

I think Toto just suggested Lewis has focused his set up more on race pace than qualifying. I wonder if this has been a trend this year, Nico has been stunning in qualifying but seems to have never had the pace of Lewis in the race?

I think it's pretty obvious. Consider the last race for example - Hamilton was able to catch up over 7 seconds on Rosberg in the same car.

[suffolk009]

GCH said:

What a moaning sh!t rosberg is....
What does he want his engineer to do...run alongside and attempt to kiss his ass?

Martin suggests that Engineers don't get too excited by things.

Hope if Nico does win the big prize tomorrow the same engineer says, "yeah, okay, well, guess what, you lucked into it, congrats, I s'pose, whatever."

[funkyrobot]

Wolff said Lewis drove well within his abilities and hinted that his car is set up for the race, rather than quali.

[IforB]

If Hamilton sends an aggressive pass up the inside of Rosberg tomorrow, then Rosberg will of course know that he's at the disadvantage that if there is contact and they're knocked out, then he loses.

So Hamilton has a massive advantage there.

It should be interesting!

[Xtriple129]

I also believe that Lewis sets his car up for the race while Nico sets up for the glory run in qualy. That, in my (very)humble opinion, is the correct thing to do.

I really hope Lewis gets the championship tomorrow, and before this season, I was not really a fan in the slightest.

[Scuffers]

IforB said:

If Hamilton sends an aggressive pass up the inside of Rosberg tomorrow, then Rosberg will of course know that he's at the disadvantage that if there is contact and they're knocked out, then he loses.

So Hamilton has a massive advantage there.

It should be interesting!

if you follow that argument though, front wings are changeable, rears are not...

[hornetrider]

2nd is the best place for Lewis to be, he can keep an eye on Nico from there. Nico's tactics will be more interesting given he needs to back Lewis up into Bottas.

[Mini1275]

I'd have thought backing up Lewis wouldn't be a particularly good idea considering he's been faster in the races and will have DRS.

[anonymous-user]

Scuffers said:

IforB said:

If Hamilton sends an aggressive pass up the inside of Rosberg tomorrow, then Rosberg will of course know that he's at the disadvantage that if there is contact and they're knocked out, then he loses.

So Hamilton has a massive advantage there.

It should be interesting!

if you follow that argument though, front wings are changeable, rears are not...

Indeed, it could have the same outcome as Spa. Hamilton should only push to 100% if the Williams boys get too close. However Rosberg can't afford to back Hamilton into them as Hamilton will just pass him. It should be a simple cruise for LH, I just hope he doesn't enter Hamilton2011 mode.

[hornetrider]

Mini1275 said:

I'd have thought backing up Lewis wouldn't be a particularly good idea considering he's been faster in the races and will have DRS.

Oh agreed, however given the circumstances I don't see he has any choice. Maybe he'll get a bit punchy as neither of them want to risk a collision and the lottery that would bring.

[Matt_N]

It could certainly be an interesting start tomo, second gives you the inside line into the first corner but you'd have to be brave to risk being chopped off.

Worked for Seb last year.

I think Lewis has the race pace in hand, all season he has been kinder on both tyres and fuel. The two long DRS sections should enable him to affect the pass, he will then hopefully have the pace to break away from Rosberg.

[Mini1275]

Unsurprisingly Lewis' race pace was better than Rosberg's whilst also seemingly being a bit kinder on his tyres.

Hopefully he can jump him off the line and walk away with it.

[Matt_N]

Thought the BBC had two great features today, DC and Bottas in Keke and Damon's Williams and the picture memories with Jenson, great stuff.

[RichB]

hornetrider said:

Mini1275 said:

I'd have thought backing up Lewis wouldn't be a particularly good idea considering he's been faster in the races and will have DRS.

Oh agreed, however given the circumstances I don't see he has any choice. Maybe he'll get a bit punchy as neither of them want to risk a collision and the lottery that would bring.

Surely Rosberg has to be more circumspect? A collision taking them both out ends his hopes.

[Matthen]

RenOHH said:

You would never, ever see Lewis say he wished a Williams had got between them if the roles were reversed. And people say Lewis is a dick...

Referring to the press conference.

Nico was probably hoping he could just reverse straight into hamilton at the start. Which would have been hilarious. Hoping for a double Mercedes DNF tomorrow, Bottas deserves the win.

[Scuffers]

Mini1275 said:

Unsurprisingly Lewis' race pace was better than Rosberg's whilst also seemingly being a bit kinder on his tyres.

Hopefully he can jump him off the line and walk away with it.

might be reading too much into this BUT!

Williams are almost 10Kmh faster, add in DRS is going to be interesting.

[Mermaid]

Scuffers said:

might be reading too much into this BUT!

Williams are almost 10Kmh faster, add in DRS is going to be interesting.

Massa payback for Hamilton? Hamilton cannot take the same risks as Massa.

[NRS]

Scuffers said:

might be reading too much into this BUT!

Williams are almost 10Kmh faster, add in DRS is going to be interesting.

No way are Williams getting involved even with that, unless there are mechanical issues/ big driver error or pit problem.