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Grand Prix thread ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX 2021

Discussion in 'Formula 1' started by ched999uk, Dec 7, 2021.

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Who will win - simple :-) ?

Poll closed Dec 10, 2021.
  1. Lewis Hamilton

    71.4%
  2. Max Verstappen

    7.1%
  3. Valtteri Bottas

    7.1%
  4. Sergio Perez

    7.1%
  5. Lando Norris

    7.1%
  6. Esteban Ocon

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  7. Pierre Gasly

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  8. Fernando Alonso

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  9. Kimi Raikkonen

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  10. Any Other

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  1. moreinjuredthanowen

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    P2 says this is all over bar mechanical failure.
     
    #61
  2. Quite Possibly Raving

    Quite Possibly Raving Well-Known Member

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    Sort of. Although I hope Lewis just does the job now do I can relax about next year, come what may.
     
    #62
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  3. Julius Caesar

    Julius Caesar Well-Known Member
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    Interesting FP2.

    Hamilton well ahead on one lap pace, but was slower than Perez in the race sim.
     
    #63
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  4. El_Bando

    El_Bando Can't remember, where was I?
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    This is what I don't like. Masi has the business interests at heart so can push it in that direction. FOM are winning big here this weekend... Mercedes also have a cosy relationship with masi. I also think SKY have some influence here too.

    The rules should be decided by the impartial panel. F1 Has always been shady in this area.

    Deal making is totally the wrong thing to do. (I like how part of the deal was a promise to investigate bottas which I don't think they did)

    Imagine all this happening in another sport
     
    #64
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  5. ched999uk

    ched999uk Well-Known Member

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    Must say I think we just were able to hear what would normally not be broadcast when someone gains a position off track. I have heard on many occasions where a team asks should they give the place back. Red Bull are never going to ask to be demoted! I think Masi badly phrased the 'offer' I think it was actually more of a threat. In that what he was actually saying was give the place back or I will report it to stewards and you will receive a worse penalty.

    I do think Masi and the Stewards are not purely looking at the sporting side of things. The commercial rights holders are putting influence on the decisions to provide entertainment. I seem to remember that one of Bernie's justification to split out the commercial rights from the sporting aspect was to remove the conflict of interests the FIA had when they owned the whole lot!
     
    #65
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  6. TopClass

    TopClass Well-Known Member

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    Lots of posturing today- the wicks will be turned up tomorrow.

    Think the big two will qualify 1-2 myself. I actually half fancy max to get pole.

    Race pace who knows
     
    #66
  7. moreinjuredthanowen

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    Imo Mr red bull hasn't pulled his nuclear card or closing two teams and decimating the grid yet.

    But then merc can whistle and pull engines from other teams etc.

    It's amazing how the sport misses fearing Eccleston
     
    #67
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  8. Quite Possibly Raving

    Quite Possibly Raving Well-Known Member

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    From FP (I know I know) I wonder if it might be the other way round with Merc faster in qualifying and RB more comfortable on race pace on these softer tyre compounds.

    Edit - I'm fully expecting the Mercs to two stop and RB to one stop.
     
    #68
  9. Big Ern

    Big Ern Lord, Master, Guru & Emperor

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    Just to let you all know, I voted Max.
     
    #69
  10. SgtBhaji

    SgtBhaji Well-Known Member

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    You're the only one it seems. Weird.
     
    #70
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  11. moreinjuredthanowen

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    Hamilton has this on the short runs in p2 which is the most representative session for quali in terms of conditions and teams trying short runs.

    Unless red bull pull massive time.out over the course of saturday hamilton will start on pole and therefore is only the standing start away from the championship.

    Mechanical failure is verstappen only hope. Be it rear wing issue or whatever.

    2 drs zones here.

    Can see max going backwards rather than challenging
     
    #71
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  12. Justjazz

    Justjazz Well-Known Member

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    Based on the interview with Merc they are changing the engine for tomorrow, putting the slightly higher performing engine in.
     
    #72
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  13. Big Ern

    Big Ern Lord, Master, Guru & Emperor

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    yeah, that's why I did it, I had originally chosen Hamilton.
     
    #73
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  14. Justjazz

    Justjazz Well-Known Member

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    I think Max walking away from podium celebrations last week and defence of his style of driving is mostly because he did not anticipate being level on points at the final race. I also think he is as much annoyed with himself as he is with any other aspect. I suspect he really hoped he would pull the championship off this year a few races ago.
    Any human would feel a tad disappointed at the recent turn of events since Mexico. We will see the very best of what Max can do and give this weekend. He would be very dsappointed with himself if he didn't leave any stone unturned.
    Next season the game is reset, will this see a change in the sport and will a three, maybe even four, horse race change the dynamic more than the rule changes. A procession this weekend will be an anticlimax.
     
    #74
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  15. moreinjuredthanowen

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    He gave everything in quali last race and then floored it rather than accept the slide and hit a wall.

    He was then gifted 1st by red flag and binned the restart too.

    He then got in front and the pulled the same trick he tried in brazil to the same effect, a penalty.

    He is going in against a clearly, undeniably, faster car and he can put in any and all efforts to counter that bit he cannot get ahead and stay ahead.

    Its the equivilant and expecting and ocon win. Not impossible clearly bit right now highly unlikely. It's just a matter of degrees here. Verstappen is clearly miles faster than ocon as the example of someone who has won by hamilton so fat has 0.3seconds on verstappen and that's a fairly consistent gap we've seen before.

    Merc on pole.
    First lap dice maybe
    Procession thereafter barring contact (and contact is assured to mean verstappen gets points deductions as masi as said so)

    The biggest hope verstappen has is a mechanical failure for hamilton
     
    #75
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  16. ched999uk

    ched999uk Well-Known Member

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    I do think you are right about Max being annoyed with himself. In all fairness he could have won the championship a couple of race ago if he had a bit more self control. After his antics this year I don't want him rewarded. He needs to race hard but fair then he will be a worthy champion.

    I am interested to see how Red Bull do with the new car in the first tests as they must have spent big time this year to do so well. I am concerned they didn't have the budget for this year and the completely new cars - I wonder if they somehow used AlphaT's budget as a way of developing the new Red Bull!
     
    #76
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  17. ched999uk

    ched999uk Well-Known Member

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    I want Lewis to win and Max to make an error and take himself out. Any mechanical failure will just give Max an excuse to continue driving the way he does.
     
    #77
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  18. moreinjuredthanowen

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    Theres a very high chance imo verstappen will implode, esp if botta is between him and Hamilton. A half arsed desperate lunge is always possible
     
    #78
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  19. SgtBhaji

    SgtBhaji Well-Known Member

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    Majority going Hamilton can only mean it's going to chuck a curveball.
     
    #79
  20. eddie_squidd

    eddie_squidd Well-Known Member

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    Only if it's you! :emoticon-0136-giggl
     
    #80
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