Official 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Thread **SPOILERS**

[GR86]

Max won't have liked losing last week so they'll put the right tyres on and stop sandbagging. Abu Dhabi point to prove and smash it (sadly).

[suffolk009]

simon_harris said:

As much as I would like Hamilton to get a win this year that would feel really manufactured to me.

If Masi was still around, there'd be a better than 50/50 chance Lewis would be crowned 2022 WDC on Sunday. I obviously don't know how - but Masi could make something up on the spot.

Edited by suffolk009 on Wednesday 16th November 16:45

[Jasandjules]

wevster said:

I hope he does have to help him though, it will be interesting to see if he does.

I can imagine he will go down the straight then weave and Perez will hit his rear... Then Lewis will win..... Maybe...

[shirt]

Sandpit Steve said:

Fundoreen said:

No doubt they pay a lot to be the last race of the year but it is on at a poor time. Being as they run under lights by the end they should start 5pm gmt.
Such a big event done and dusted by 3pm smacks of people wanting an early flight home.
Probably why last years contoversy was quickly brushed under the carpet as they scrambled to pack their bags
Then resurrected next day as they realized the fans are not mugs.

The time slot came about because FOM wanted the race on prime European Sunday afternoon TV, as they’d just demonstrated they could do in Singapore. By a happy coincidence, they can start at 17:00 local time just before sunset, so start in the light and finish in the dark, which gave another USP for the race.

Yes, they pay a lot to be the last race. Which, until last year, might often have been considered poor value for money, given the number of dead rubbers in the past decade.

Edited by Sandpit Steve on Wednesday 16th November 14:45

It’s great value for them really, looks great on tv and it’s self funding - the private boxes on the pit straight brings in enough money alone to break even.

[Jonny_]

Last race of the season, that's come around quick.

Personally I would like to see Lewis win this one. Would be a good race for him to finally get a win this season after the farce at AD last year. But at this point I'll be happy with anyone other than Max!

I'd also like to see Ricciardo put in a decent showing in what is quite likely to be his last ever GP. Seems unlikely I know.

[HocusPocus]

Perez to be taken out by Verstappen on lap 1.....including standard contact radio message 'this is what happens if you don't leave enough space.'

Charles to have tough race but recovers to P10 to take second place WDC by a point.

Seb to win in his final race.

[jm doc]

HocusPocus said:

Perez to be taken out by Verstappen on lap 1.....including standard contact radio message 'this is what happens if you don't leave enough space.'

[the-norseman]

Haas just announced Hulkenberg 2023

[NRS]

kambites said:

It will be fascinating to see if Mercedes' performance holds up here. If it does, it bodes extremely well for them next season; if they're miles behind Redbull again it could well be that their recent surge in form is primarily down to the circuit conditions. My gut feeling is that Redbull will have a healthy lead, but it's very hard to judge.

Maybe… it could be RB have a bunch of money spare and are using it on the car for next year whereas Merc used up all their money to get where they are now so have nothing extra for next season. Same with Ferrari - did the floor rule make them slower and they had no money left to change the car, or did they then put all the spending into next year after the rule change/seeing the season fall apart?

[MustangGT]

NRS said:

Maybe… it could be RB have a bunch of money spare and are using it on the car for next year whereas Merc used up all their money to get where they are now so have nothing extra for next season. Same with Ferrari - did the floor rule make them slower and they had no money left to change the car, or did they then put all the spending into next year after the rule change/seeing the season fall apart?

The cost cap is the cost cap.

If anybody thinks RB have spent less this year than last and still have spare money I think they should have a serious think. It is likely RB have done their accounting in a similar way to last year.....

[Gad-Westy]

MustangGT said:

NRS said:

Maybe… it could be RB have a bunch of money spare and are using it on the car for next year whereas Merc used up all their money to get where they are now so have nothing extra for next season. Same with Ferrari - did the floor rule make them slower and they had no money left to change the car, or did they then put all the spending into next year after the rule change/seeing the season fall apart?

The cost cap is the cost cap.

If anybody thinks RB have spent less this year than last and still have spare money I think they should have a serious think. It is likely RB have done their accounting in a similar way to last year.....

I'm not sure where the cut off dates for each year's spending cap is but I would think RB had enough warning to put the brakes on spending a bit this year. Presumably they were aware of the breach in September?

[lambosagogo]

Gad-Westy said:

I'm not sure where the cut off dates for each year's spending cap is but I would think RB had enough warning to put the brakes on spending a bit this year. Presumably they were aware of the breach in September?

And the benefits of last year were locked in already with them being so far ahead in the standings so there was no need to spend much further this year.

[PhilAsia]

MustangGT said:

NRS said:

Maybe… it could be RB have a bunch of money spare and are using it on the car for next year whereas Merc used up all their money to get where they are now so have nothing extra for next season. Same with Ferrari - did the floor rule make them slower and they had no money left to change the car, or did they then put all the spending into next year after the rule change/seeing the season fall apart?

The cost cap is the cost cap.

If anybody thinks RB have spent less this year than last and still have spare money I think they should have a serious think. It is likely RB have done their accounting in a similar way to last year.....and cheated again...probably

FTFY

[Deesee]

The press conference is brilliant!

[HTP99]

Deesee said:

The press conference is brilliant!

What's going on?

[MustangGT]

PhilAsia said:

MustangGT said:

NRS said:

Maybe… it could be RB have a bunch of money spare and are using it on the car for next year whereas Merc used up all their money to get where they are now so have nothing extra for next season. Same with Ferrari - did the floor rule make them slower and they had no money left to change the car, or did they then put all the spending into next year after the rule change/seeing the season fall apart?

The cost cap is the cost cap.

If anybody thinks RB have spent less this year than last and still have spare money I think they should have a serious think. It is likely RB have done their accounting in a similar way to last year.....and cheated again...probably

FTFY

[MadCaptainJack]

MustangGT said:

The cost cap is the cost cap.

If anybody thinks RB have spent less this year than last and still have spare money I think they should have a serious think. It is likely RB have done their accounting in a similar way to last year.....

It's entirely possible that RBR could have spent more this year but come in under the cost cap. Now they know where the goalposts are (and will be alert for any unexpected movement), and what the FIA's approach is to enforcement, it's unlikely they'd make the same cost allocation errors that pushed them over the cap last year. They can properly account for any tax credit, and make sure that the catering costs are properly apportioned; they know how to account for unused and redundant parts, and it wouldn't surprise me if they make some changes to employees' contracts to avoid a repeat of the Dan Fallows situation, and ensure that they can formally/contractually reassign people to non-F1 activities when appropriate.

[Deesee]

HTP99 said:

Deesee said:

The press conference is brilliant!

What's going on?

Drivers Press conference Lewis and Seb with Fernando sitting in the middle!

[NRS]

MadCaptainJack said:

MustangGT said:

The cost cap is the cost cap.

If anybody thinks RB have spent less this year than last and still have spare money I think they should have a serious think. It is likely RB have done their accounting in a similar way to last year.....

It's entirely possible that RBR could have spent more this year but come in under the cost cap. Now they know where the goalposts are (and will be alert for any unexpected movement), and what the FIA's approach is to enforcement, it's unlikely they'd make the same cost allocation errors that pushed them over the cap last year. They can properly account for any tax credit, and make sure that the catering costs are properly apportioned; they know how to account for unused and redundant parts, and it wouldn't surprise me if they make some changes to employees' contracts to avoid a repeat of the Dan Fallows situation, and ensure that they can formally/contractually reassign people to non-F1 activities when appropriate.

It's also very possible the other teams will be able to spend more this season too. You can play around with the catering costs, and spend a tax rebate that you never actually got on the car. All that happens is you have to move some of your spending in 2 years time from aero testing in the wind tunnel to other parts of the car development instead, and give a little bit of the extra prize money you won back (but you'll get more sponsorship to more than make up for it). It's a no-brainer.

[shirt]

K50 DEL said:

shirt said:

I’m headed down there this evening, access all areas

If you need someone to carry your bags

Someone selling main grandstand tickets for all 3 days on a WhatsApp chat I’m on, 6k for the pair.

ETA: dirhams

Also one Sunday for marina suite which is free f&b, aed3600

Edited by shirt on Thursday 17th November 13:38