The Official 2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Thread **Spoilers**

[ukaskew]

Friday 25th - Sunday 27th November 2016

UK Broadcast Timings (and local time)

All sessions are live on Channel 4 and Sky F1

Session	Day	Sky F1	Channel 4	Session Start	Local Time
Practice 1	Fri	08:45	08:55	09:00	13:00
Practice 2	Fri	12:45	12:55	13:00	17:00
Practice 3	Sat	09:45	09:55	10:00	14:00
Qualifying	Sat	12:00	12:00	13:00	17:00
Race	Sun	11:30	TBC	13:00	17:00

Race highlights on Channel 4 at 23:00


Yas Marina Circuit




Live Timing

http://www.formula1.com/en/championship/races/2016...


Detailed Event Information

http://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula-one-world-ch...


Weather Forecast

http://www.myweather2.com/Motor-Racing/United-Arab...


Tyre Choices




Drivers' Championship Permutations

Rosberg Champion:

ROS 1st
ROS 2nd
ROS 3rd
ROS 4th, 5th or 6th, HAM 2nd or lower
ROS 7th or 8th, HAM 3rd or lower
ROS 9th or lower, HAM 4th or lower

Hamilton Champion:

HAM 1st, ROS 4th or lower
HAM 2nd, ROS 7th or lower
HAM 3rd, ROS 9th or lower

If ROS has a DNF, HAM must finish in the top 3, 4th will see them level on points but give the championship to ROS on 2nd place countback.

Constructors' Championship

- Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari have secured the top 3 positions respectively
- Force India and Williams will finish either 4th or 5th, although Force India now have a 27 point gap, so it's unlikely Williams will catch them
- McLaren are 12 points clear of Toro Rosso in 6th and 7th respectively, the final positions are unlikely to change unless Manor can score points


Next Race

2017 Season: Melbourne, Australia. March 26th 2017


2015

Results: https://www.formula1.com/en/championship/results/2...

1. Nico Rosberg (Quali: 1)
2. Lewis Hamilton (2)
3. Kimi Räikkönen (3)

Fastest Lap: Lewis Hamilton 1:44.517

2015 Thread: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by ukaskew on Monday 14th November 16:22

Edited by ukaskew on Thursday 17th November 12:10

[ukaskew]

Fantastic piece with Brundle and Verstappen on Sky looking in detail at all his Brazil overtakes (and spin save!), pretty immense what they are able to process in a split second.

[ukaskew]

Before today I kinda hoped something would mix it up this weekend, but it's not going to happen is it? Rosberg can turn it down and cruise to second, I forgot how dull this circuit is in terms of racing.

[ukaskew]

HedgeyGedgey said:

It'd be stupid of Hamilton to just go for it in the race. If he gets pole all he has to do is back Rosberg into the Red Bulls and Ferraris'

Will be interesting to see if he does this (assuming he gets away in first), absolutely nothing to lose if they're one-two.

Verstappen down in 6th removes a lot of the risk for Rosberg.

[ukaskew]

Yep all races on Sky Q next season in UHD...so not technically 4K

The new Now TV box out this year that was rumoured to do UHD doesn't, so nothing official as yet for the future.

[ukaskew]

Hamilton said something along the lines of not being champion but being satisfied that he was the best (might be massively paraphrasing there) the other day, so part of me thinks he may just want to prove a point and chalk up another win, knowing that realistically he can't do much about the championship.

Also interesting in the press conference when he said about the change over of mechanics in the team, that he couldn't say anything now but in 10 years time when he writes a book it will be a very interesting read.

[ukaskew]

LoudV8 said:

U wot ?

UHD currently refers to 4K and beyond.

(PAL 625 was called HD back in the day !)

4K, as the term implies, means 4000px on the horizontal axis and was coined for cinema use. UHD can pretty much mean anything shy of 4K and up. You'll notice a lot of TV manufacturers etc are very careful to just say 'UHD' rather than 4K. Pedantic, but this is PH.

[ukaskew]

Fair play to Merc / Nico for going for that. Unnecessarily risky in my opinion considering even 3rd wins the championship.

[ukaskew]

HardtopManual said:

Imagine if the season finale had been held at a wet Interlagos.

As it used to be. Unfortunately for F1 fans Abu Dhabi is a better location for the Paddock Club and parties.

[ukaskew]

Hamilton may as well get out and push, Ferrari and Red Bull won't catch them.

[ukaskew]

I want to be excited about the possibilities of Hamilton backing up. But realistically, that still require two cars to pass Rosberg or a tussle that takes him out. Both incredibly unlikely.

Worse case scenario, Rosberg can still more than likely easily slot in to third and use his massive power reserves to stay out of trouble, an easy DRS pass in the bank of required.

[ukaskew]

We don't even get dual Button / Massa donuts at the end to liven this up.

Room of awkwardness should be worth a watch though.

[ukaskew]

Shame they've taken fuel use stats away, Hamilton probably has enough in reserve to drive home.

[ukaskew]

Credit where it's due, this is quite amusing now. As F1 often does I'm sure nothing will come of it, but it will be fun whilst it lasts.

Lewis currently nearly two seconds down on his target pace.

[ukaskew]

Lewis currently considering driving blindfolded to see if any other team can catch them up.

[ukaskew]

Paddy Power (ignored)

[ukaskew]

Funny how the only legitimate (and obvious) tactic discussed before the race is suddenly unacceptable.

I've seen enough Motorsport to know backing up is not uncommon and generally not regarded as unsportsmanlike.

[ukaskew]

It did seem oddly harsh from the team. Nothing on the line, constructors and WDC guaranteed, and both cars clearly with pace in hand to hold off Vettel.

[ukaskew]

HedgeyGedgey said:

What has the world come to, BREXIT, Leicester city winning the league, Trump being elected and now Rosberg champion

A few quid on that would have given a healthy return.

[ukaskew]

VolvoT5 said:

The Ferrari strategist should be looking for a new job at the end of this year.

^^^ This is why we're not strategists.