2011 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

[plate88]

2011 is a non-season, forget about any records set by vettel.

Wrong my friend. Vettel is making history as we watch. Ever think about the great racecar drivers from years past and wish you could've seen them in action? I do. And we all should take notice of Vettel and what he is doing. We might just have stories to tell to grandchildren and young people in the future.

I see F1 very differently than many. I watch F1 just because its awesome. I have no favorite team or driver. The cars, tracks, speed, technology, and the overall spectacle of F1 is uncomparable to anything.

This season has been anything but the so-called boring or non-existent. There have been storylines and battles all throughout the field that has surprised and dissapointed this season. To me, its another classic F1 season and one to remember like all the rest.👍

 

[tribolik]

Massa on the other hand is also making history as the driver to hit more kerbs (violently) in one season - breaking suspensions - and today breaking a pole and causing a red flag in Q2... I think he is still a great driver but needs to update his glasses prescription or something....

 

[Rich S]

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Slow Webber down? How? Simply just let him drive. The man just doesn't have the qualifying pace of his team-mate. Button's time was incredibly close to Hamilton's though... that was a fantastically clean lap.

Vettel from the get go was the "number 1 driver" Webber the "number 2".

Since Vettel finished 2nd and Webber 4th in 2009 their abilities were viewed as closer in 2010 than 2011 where "Seb" was viewed as the chosen one by the team no doubt.

I'm just wondering how much faster Webber could be if his car was the same as Vettel's.

It was obvious by China that they werent trying very hard to get Webber's KERS working. Their the number one racing team in the world and they cant make his KERS work? I know its bad to use a question mark when debating but......

 

[niky]

Webber isn't the only one who's had KERS problems, mind you. Vettel has had to do some runs without it, also.

KERS issues... missing boost. Overheating. Etceterae, etceterae... have been a recurring theme for the RBR team. And did we miss the last season or two where Vettel had brake problems?

It's true that Red Bull have, at times, wanted Mark to back down during a race to give way to Vettel. And they've asked him not to try to overtake Vettel for wins. But the fact that Webber often qualifies behind McLaren and puts himself into traffic is all on his head. Obviously Red Bull will want both drivers on the front row, all the time, simply because this gives them more constructor's points. That they sometimes aren't is more often Webber's fault than Vettel's.

C'mon... can't we recognize the qualifying issue for what it is? Vettel, like Lewis, like Fernando, can pull an extra few tenths out of the car over his team-mate in qualifying. Period.

Note: Webber himself admitted that his Q3 lap was "scrappy" and added that this was one of the few times he felt that he could equal Vettel's qualifying pace...

-----

And yes, sadly... this season isn't great for non-fans... there's no title fight to talk about. It would be nice if McLaren and Ferrari get their act together next year.

 

[YellowG1]

Bleh, we've all seen this movie before. I think we all figured that regardless of McLaren's pace, Vettel would pull something out when necessary. If one of the McLarens can pip Vettel to turn 1, which is unlikely, then it might be interesting. Otherwise, Vettel should win comfortably. I just hope it's not a procession, since Yas Marina is notorious for no passing.

And how many times do we have to do the Vettel back and forth?

 

[IceMan PJN]

I'm hoping that Hamilton has sorted out some personal demons and gets back on proper form tomorrow. He's looked great all weekend, and Vettel didn't so much take the pole from Hamilton so much as Hamilton gave the pole to Vettel, on account of Hamilton posting a Q2 lap that was faster than Vettel's pole-setting lap. Hamilton is McLaren's best driver and I'd like to see it showing again.

 

[SonicWagon]

Bleh, we've all seen this movie before. I think we all figured that regardless of McLaren's pace, Vettel would pull something out when necessary. If one of the McLarens can pip Vettel to turn 1, which is unlikely, then it might be interesting. Otherwise, Vettel should win comfortably. I just hope it's not a procession, since Yas Marina is notorious for no passing.

And how many times do we have to do the Vettel back and forth?

Everytime they get him at turn one he passes them within the first lap and starts to build that DRS protective 1+ second gap.

Vettel has a connection in this car, he is able to open the DRS wing earlier than the Mclarens and webber who despite what some think, is in the same car.

 

[Cowboys965]

Does anyone know what time this race is in Eastern Time (US)?

 

[Northstar]

does anyone know what time this race is in eastern time (us)?

8am

 

[Cowboys965]

8am

Oh, I thought it was around 7:30am, well, half hour later then!

 

[Northstar]

Oh, I thought it was around 7:30am, well, half hour later then!

The broadcast starts at 7:30ET, but it's just the pre-race show.

 

[niky]

I'm hoping that Hamilton has sorted out some personal demons and gets back on proper form tomorrow. He's looked great all weekend, and Vettel didn't so much take the pole from Hamilton so much as Hamilton gave the pole to Vettel, on account of Hamilton posting a Q2 lap that was faster than Vettel's pole-setting lap. Hamilton is McLaren's best driver and I'd like to see it showing again.

Both McLaren drivers stated that as qualifying went on, the balance went from neutral (Hamilton) or twitchy (Button) to just enough understeer (Button) to lots of understeer (Hamilton). Conditions were changing, and the McLarens apparently didn't like the cold.

 

[Rich S]

Will be routing for the competition to get a one up on Vettel.

Last year I was routing for Vettel to win the championship at the end of the season. I really enjoyed that last race where it came down to the wire. Korea was a heart break when Vettel engine exploded. It was such a great 2010 season. 09 was pretty good too.

This year its been boring watching my "favorite" racer dominate in such a fashion. I hope Ferrari is able to make some kind of comeback & give Alonso/Massa a proper run. I really do hope Massa doesnt suffer from the altercations with Hamilton either. Hamilton is the douche bag of the year, not Massa.

 

[SlyckTires]

This has been a really boring season,

We must've been watching different races.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Say what you will about the quality of the racing produced by Abu Dhabi, qualifying showed us something that we haven't really seen anywhere this year: drivers attacking kerbs. And not just glancing them on the way through - the Ferraris and McLarens were taking to the kerbs as if they were landing on the beaches at Normandy.

 

[Tesla]

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=132239

Nostalgia...

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Okay, I've tried to come up with a solution for Abu Dhabi that is realistic:

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5185785

First of all, the chicane before the hairpin is faster. It still slows the cars down for the actual hairpin, it just doesn't require the cars to come to a near-halt.

Secondly, the switchback. The first corner is no longer as sharp, and it then joins up with part of the circuit that isolates the back half.

Thirdly, the bottom corner. The chicane is gone; it's now a heavy braking zone before opening up into a corner that the cars can accelerate through. This also turns the existing Turn 15 into a very fast left-right flick.

Finally, the hotel and the final corner. There is actually a car park on the inside of the penultimate corner; this circuit cuts through it, and then turns the final corner into a double-apex bend where the first apex is slower than the second.

Given a blank cheque to fix the circuit, this is what I'd so:

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5185793

The cars line up in the opposite direction to what they currently do. They go through the back half of the circuit first, then over a purpose-built flyover, around behind the grandstands and onto the back straight. This is possible because the run-off actually runs under the grandstand there (as Natascha Gachnang demonstrated in the GT1 race). The chicane on the back straight would be exaggerated, designed to be taken quite quickly, but slowing the cars dow a little.

 

[Famine]

How was anyone supposed to know about the complete Vettel domination at the start of this season?

How is it relevant?

To argue his repetive wins have cost F1, in that it hasn't expanded interest in the sport is probably not true, and they certainly haven't lost any either. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a slight rise in TV viewers because of Vettel (especially in Germany), just because people like the idea of new superstar and watching their progression/decline in their carrer.

You have no idea how many times I've heard "F1's boring. Vettel wins everything.". It's like 2000-2004 all over again. That doesn't attract people.

The rest of us know that the actual racing from 2nd back has been awesome for the most part and in the races where Vettel hasn't simply disappeared off pole and actually been involved with other cars, we've had some of the greatest races of ever. This means two things - people are bored by the same guy winning a lot and if they think F1 is boring they haven't actually watched the races...

Your points would be totally valid if it was RedBull as a whole being ahead every weekend. Most of this season has been soo damn close, so this isn't like F1 has become pointless to watch.

That's exactly what I'm saying.

As far as those non-F1 fans not bothering to tune into the races because they keep seeing the "Vettel Wins" headlines, well it their loss.

That's exactly what I'm saying.

it's not Vettels fault, it's not RedBulls fault and also not F1's fault

Who's blaming anyone? You need to get this notion of "haters" out of your head and stick with objectivity. It is how it is - the season has been phenomenally exciting, from second backwards. Unless you happen to be a Vettel fan - but then he hasn't been on screen all that much this year, we just see him taking off from pole and then crossing the finishing line for the win.

In fact, the longest sequence I've seen of Vettel on screen this season was on Friday, standing behind the TecPro barrier he'd just put his car into. For a guy who ran away with the driver's championship, there's something a bit wrong with that.

 

[Small_Fryz]

For a guy who ran away with the driver's championship, there's something a bit wrong with that.

For only 24 he hasnt made that many mistakes..
A couple of errors in friday practice?

 

[Sohvakettu]

For only 24 he hasnt made that many mistakes..
A couple of errors in friday practice?

I think the point was that his lead is often so dominant that the only times he gets tv coverage is when he is in the barriers because there isn't really anything else happening around him.

 

[Rich S]

I think Vettel's domination days are numbered.

McLaren's within 1/10th sec. All they need is a whee bit more & "Seb" is 'swamped' in the pack.

 

[Sohvakettu]

I think Vettel's domination days are numbered.

McLaren's within 1/10th sec. All they need is a whee bit more & "Seb" is 'swamped' in the pack.

I kind of like Vettel but this would be a welcome change (and I'm a fan of Button ). Have to see what kinds of rabbits Newey will be pulling out of his hat for the next season though.

 

[Prince.M5]

I think the point was that his lead is often so dominant that the only times he gets tv coverage is when he is in the barriers because there isn't really anything else happening around him.

Well, more like the first 10 laps, spinning or putting his car on a barrier and the last lap of the race. I think India was the race where he appeared the least on TV coverage...

I'm not counting out Vettel, he could still run away in the first 5 laps but the McLarens look very strong. As the race progresses, Alonso also needs a bit of a look!

 

[Small_Fryz]

Vettel wins everything.". It's like 2000-2004 all over again.

Except Vettel's team mate is no where...
Vettel really is doing a brilliant job and watching him qualify is just epic.

 

[Famine]

Indeed, but the non-fans read the results in papers and don't bother tuning in for the next race because they think it's pointless. That's the point - one dominant driver gives the public face of dullness when the reality of the races has been, dominant driver aside, almost the most exciting in history.


Webber's done. He had his best chance last year, but it was also his last chance. These days he seems happiest when he's miserable and if he doesn't have something to complain about he's not happy - if he wins one of the last two races, it'll be through team orders.

 

[Joshua1994]

Jenson's mustache, that is all.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

It's Movember. He's excused.

 

[Famine]

There's no excuse for looking like Ned Flanders.

 

[niky]

if he wins one of the last two races, it'll be through team orders.

"Seb, we have an issue with fuel, trim down. Don't worry, Mark is doing the same."

"What place is he in?"

"Twelfth."

 

[Small_Fryz]

^^