Official 2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[K50 DEL]

Date(s): Friday 29 November - Sunday 01 December 2019

UK Broadcast Timings (and local time)

All sessions are live on Sky F1 & Highlights on Channel 4.

Session	Day	Sky F1	Channel 4	Session Start	Local Time
Practice 1	Fri	0845	----	0900	1300
Practice 2	Fri	1245	----	1300	1700
Practice 3	Sat	0945	----	1000	1400
Qualifying	Sat	1255	1700	1300	1700
Race	Sun	1305	1805	1310	1710

YAS Marina Circuit Abu Dhabi



Live timing for all sessions available here:

http://www.formula1.com/content/fom-website/en/f1-...

Weather forecast:

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

Event timings, steward decisions, technical reports and laptimes for the weekend will appear here:

https://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula-one-world-c...

The tyre choices:


2018 Quali Result



2018 Race Result




So the final race of what has been one of the finest seasons of F1 for a long time and we're back to the heat of Abu Dhabi... a race I've been lucky enough to attend in person 6 times (and am likely to present this year as well) so it holds a special place for me, even though the racing is often not the best.

The first 2 spots in the Championship may have already been decided, but the battle for positions 3/4/5 as well as a separate battle for 6/7/8 will be keenly fought this weekend.

With the announcement that Albon is to keep his seat for next season some of the pressure will have been lifted from his shoulders and I expect him to go well here.

Fingers and ClC will doubtless have had a serious dressing down by their management so hopefully there'll be no repeat of the shenanigans of the last race, overtaking is possible here though and Vettel will, I'm certain, want to end the season on a high.

[Jasandjules]

Two power straights, has to be a Ferrari win.

[TheDeuce]

Jasandjules said:

Two power straights, has to be a Ferrari win.

I don't think it's possible to say such a thing these days without considering the various ways Ferrari manage to screw up their own weekend.

Has there been a single foregone conclusion Ferrari result this season!? Other than the predictability of their drivers eventually wiping each other out.

Anyway, yes it's a good circuit for them, on paper they should own it. Statistically however they're doomed to find a way to fail.

[HustleRussell]

Bottas may have a grid penalty so Mercedes may be fighting this race one handed.

It'll be interesting to see how many other drivers run into PU reliability issues, we might have a load of grid penalties or maybe some nostalgic 'first turbo era' style attrition.

Toro Rosso historically go well here- can they demote Renault to 6th in the constructors? They are currently only 8 points apart. Gasly and Sainz are on equal points coming into the weekend and will be battling for class 'B' honours. It highlights how good Sainz has been this season considering that Gasly spent the first half in a Red Bull.

[TheDeuce]

HustleRussell said:

Toro Rosso historically go well here- can they demote Renault to 6th in the constructors? They are currently only 8 points apart.

God imagine. I think this season has already left Renault with a lot to think about, being beaten by McLaren really isn't what they wanted or expected. If they also get beaten by TR....!?

It would make for a very dark end of the season at Renault F1 HQ. You're right though, it's very close and if Renault have a bad day, I could see it happen. I can also see TR being given whatever help required to make it happen... Worse of all, I can already imagine Horner's smug face if it were to happen.

[TheDeuce]

Just an idle thought...

It must be a strange mix of emotions for Hulkenberg, with his (likely) final F1 race taking place in Abu Dhabi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTst0hAtIvY

"I'm hanging here like a cow - there is fire".

[Deesee]

Jasandjules said:

Two power straights, has to be a Ferrari win.

Not quite, they’ll be glacial through slow sections.

There aren’t too many tracks that don’t suit the Merc, but this is very much one if their strongest.

[HustleRussell]

Deesee said:

Jasandjules said:

Two power straights, has to be a Ferrari win.

Not quite, they’ll be glacial through slow sections.

There aren’t too many tracks that don’t suit the Merc, but this is very much one if their strongest.

Is this a competition to see who can over-simplify the most?

In Brazil Ferrari's straight line advantage was not what it has been but they were as quick as Red Bull in the infield section IIRC. They probably retain a slight power advantage but whether that translates to a straight line speed advantage and how their pace on the straights compares to that in the corners depends very much on what configuration they bring.

I think the Mercedes will be the fastest car over a race distance as they go so well on the harder tyre compounds, however if Bottas takes a grid drop, Hamilton will be vulnerable to the Ferrari and Red Bull duos ganging up on him.

[Deesee]

HustleRussell said:

Is this a competition to see who can over-simplify the most?

In Brazil Ferrari's straight line advantage was not what it has been but they were as quick as Red Bull in the infield section IIRC. They probably retain a slight power advantage but whether that translates to a straight line speed advantage and how their pace on the straights compares to that in the corners depends very much on what configuration they bring.

I think the Mercedes will be the fastest car over a race distance as they go so well on the harder tyre compounds, however if Bottas takes a grid drop, Hamilton will be vulnerable to the Ferrari and Red Bull duos ganging up on him.

Ok Ferrari running much more wing, think Monaco style wings at Austin and Mexico and Brazil, they need a balance here which they don’t have..drag costs speed.

Merc have a massive race pace advantage as they are much kinder in the tyres, and much leaner in the turns..

Unlikely Bottas taking a grid drop no new engine here, Spec one and Two delivered, (unless a new one is coming in on Gulf Stream, which it could).


There u go even more simple

[Jasandjules]

Deesee said:

Not quite, they’ll be glacial through slow sections.

They have been improving on their slow corner speeds this season.

However The Deuce makes a fair comment - they may nonetheless find a way to sc*w up their own race. I do wonder if they will get team orders, whoever qualifies highest ........

[TheDeuce]

Jasandjules said:

Deesee said:

Not quite, they’ll be glacial through slow sections.

They have been improving on their slow corner speeds this season.

However The Deuce makes a fair comment - they may nonetheless find a way to sc*w up their own race. I do wonder if they will get team orders, whoever qualifies highest ........

They have improved through slow and medium corners, in fact that process of evolution with their amazing but no doubt very delicately balanced aero solution, has probably accounted for much of their up/down performances of late, which in turn has heavily contributed to all the speculation over their engine and fuel flow imo. But happily, they do appear to have found a reasonable solution for tighter tracks that crucially doesn't dent their straight line speed too much.

At this stage, when they get the setup right, they can be fast enough in tighter sections and still formidable down the straights. It might have taken them nearly all season to get their 2019 car working as they probably intended day one, but they appear to be just about on top of it now which is interesting going in to next year.

But anyway, I'm not going to make (more) jokes about their race-craft but it's a fact that they do seem particularly error prone this season, so whatever should happen, whatever we might look forward to seeing from them, there is a safe 50% chance that they'll cock it up in some way.

As for team orders, I'm honestly not sure they have the level of control of their drivers that they wish for right now. Vettel would rather crash than be told what to do, especially if what he is told to do takes away from his own race effort. I assumed as he's a young lad CLC would be far more compliant but he too appears to have taken the stance that when he has trusted his team, they've let him down on more than one occasion, so no more compliance...? They have both ignored team orders this season. It's probably half because of both questioning their strategists calculations (well, who wouldn't?...) but also down to the fact Ferrari have for the first time in a long time ended up with 2 alpha drivers. God knows how they ended up with that situation - they have historically employed a second driver as a rear gunner to support the no1 driver. Did they not expect CLC to be as quick as he has been? I'm not certain they've ended up with the driver pairing they had in mind

[Deesee]

Jasandjules said:

Deesee said:

Not quite, they’ll be glacial through slow sections.

They have been improving on their slow corner speeds this season.

However The Deuce makes a fair comment - they may nonetheless find a way to sc*w up their own race. I do wonder if they will get team orders, whoever qualifies highest ........

Yep they have added a lot more downforce, like monaco style wings in COTA/Mexico/Interlagos, to get a bit of Speed in the turns..

Front sliding was initially an issue, them an unstable rear end caused more than an issue, Seb needs a very stable back end for his optimum driving style, CLC is somewhat happy with it sliding at the back by the way, (perfect for a pole lap, however we are talking a GP, where there are 10 + current drivers who have better tyre wear/race pace).

In terms of team orders here that will be lucky for one car to be top 3 in quali, race well, I’d say a 4/6 for Ferrari would be a best case...

[TheDeuce]

Deesee said:

Jasandjules said:

Deesee said:

Not quite, they’ll be glacial through slow sections.

They have been improving on their slow corner speeds this season.

However The Deuce makes a fair comment - they may nonetheless find a way to sc*w up their own race. I do wonder if they will get team orders, whoever qualifies highest ........

Yep they have added a lot more downforce, like monaco style wings in COTA/Mexico/Interlagos, to get a bit of Speed in the turns..

Front sliding was initially an issue, them an unstable rear end caused more than an issue, Seb needs a very stable back end for his optimum driving style, CLC is somewhat happy with it sliding at the back by the way, (perfect for a pole lap, however we are talking a GP, where there are 10 + current drivers who have better tyre wear/race pace).

In terms of team orders here that will be lucky for one car to be top 3 in quali, race well, I’d say a 4/6 for Ferrari would be a best case...

That does seem likely. Last year they ran very well here but the 2018 Ferrari was quite different, as was the 2018 Red Bull too - I think the Red Bulls will potentially be closer to Mercedes than Ferrari are close to Red Bull. Red Bull could even win here - it wouldn't be the first time this year that a track that should suit Mercedes, ended up suiting Red Bull even more.

I'm re-watching last years race as I type, during which Kimi's Ferrari failed on the 7th lap... That's more bad luck than Ferrari's fault, but this year they have so far made their own bad luck in addition to whatever fate delivers to them.

[Drive Blind]

Final race, many thanks to the OP and the other OP's thoughout the season for starting these threads

[The Moose]

Good job OP! Looking forward to this one...as I do every race!

[HustleRussell]

I think we could see a return of the post-summer break pattern of Ferrari pole- maybe even a Ferrari front row lockout, with the Mercedes and Red Bull quicker on the Sunday.

I'd really love to see an eventful one, I hope there is a twist or two left in this season.

[TheDeuce]

HustleRussell said:

I think we could see a return of the post-summer break pattern of Ferrari pole- maybe even a Ferrari front row lockout, with the Mercedes and Red Bull quicker on the Sunday.

I'd really love to see an eventful one, I hope there is a twist or two left in this season.

I would hate to see a season as excellent as this one end with a dull race. Luckily, there are a few story lines to wrap up, chiefly who will be third in the WDC. I think enough pressure to drive an exciting race. Also Lewis and Bottas are both now safe and can play the race however they wish.

Like the rest of the 'boring' circuits, I expect this one to do a lot better this year, the new regs have really helped the sport. Not quite enough to make the French GP any more interesting obviously - that one's beyond help.

[Exige77]

Botas getting a new engine so can give it the full Beans from the back.

Should be fun.

[Deesee]

Seb a dad today for the 3rd time!

[thegreenhell]

Usually one of the most tedious races of the season, and with no championship interest at the front it will be all about the midfield battle for division 2 honours, but the TV director will probably fail to show much of that, as usual.