2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Free Practice & Qualifying Thread

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Mon Dec 07, 2020 2:33 pm

Source - Imgur

tootsie323 · Post by **tootsie323** » Mon Dec 07, 2020 5:15 pm

I guess that the first question is: will Hamilton be given the all-clear?

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Thu Dec 10, 2020 4:47 pm

AMuS are claiming Hamilton has tested negative in his latest Covid test. He can fly to Abu Dhabi tomorrow but will have to again take a test tomorrow before being allowed inside the paddock. He can only sit in the Mercedes car on Saturday onwards.

Russell may be allowed to run in FP1 & 2 & then he would go back to Williams.

JN23 · Post by **JN23** » Thu Dec 10, 2020 5:07 pm

UnlikeUday wrote: ↑
Thu Dec 10, 2020 4:47 pm
AMuS are claiming Hamilton has tested negative in his latest Covid test. He can fly to Abu Dhabi tomorrow but will have to again take a test tomorrow before being allowed inside the paddock. He can only sit in the Mercedes car on Saturday onwards.

Russell may be allowed to run in FP1 & 2 & then he would go back to Williams.

This seems silly to me but we’ll see what happens I guess.

Clarky · Post by **Clarky** » Thu Dec 10, 2020 6:39 pm

UnlikeUday wrote: ↑
Thu Dec 10, 2020 4:47 pm
AMuS are claiming Hamilton has tested negative in his latest Covid test. He can fly to Abu Dhabi tomorrow but will have to again take a test tomorrow before being allowed inside the paddock. He can only sit in the Mercedes car on Saturday onwards.

Russell may be allowed to run in FP1 & 2 & then he would go back to Williams.

Why Saturday that makes no sense.

Clarky · Post by **Clarky** » Thu Dec 10, 2020 9:01 pm

Hamilton will be in FP1

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Fri Dec 11, 2020 9:50 am

Perez & Magnussen will start from the back due to engine penalties:
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/950106/1/ ... abi-finale

Not worried for Perez as a fresher engine will give him the power boost & he does well at Abu Dhabi too.

Invade · Post by **Invade** » Fri Dec 11, 2020 9:55 am

UnlikeUday wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 11, 2020 9:50 am
Perez & Magnussen will start from the back due to engine penalties:
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/950106/1/ ... abi-finale

Not worried for Perez as a fresher engine will give him the power boost & he does well at Abu Dhabi too.

I think we all know why RP have decided to incur this engine penalty, putting Perez at the back of the grid.

pokerman · Post by **pokerman** » Fri Dec 11, 2020 12:02 pm

UnlikeUday wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 11, 2020 9:50 am
Perez & Magnussen will start from the back due to engine penalties:
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/950106/1/ ... abi-finale

Not worried for Perez as a fresher engine will give him the power boost & he does well at Abu Dhabi too.

I'm not sure It's that easy to overtake though?

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Fri Dec 11, 2020 12:39 pm

pokerman wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 11, 2020 12:02 pm

UnlikeUday wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 11, 2020 9:50 am
Perez & Magnussen will start from the back due to engine penalties:
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/950106/1/ ... abi-finale

Not worried for Perez as a fresher engine will give him the power boost & he does well at Abu Dhabi too.
I'm not sure It's that easy to overtake though?

I believe last year Perez drove a fantastic race & 1 of his best overtakes happened passing Norris at the chicane after the 2nd DRS straight.

He'll have the power of the newer engine & am sure he will set the car for race trim as always. He will get free tyre choice which will again play to his hands. Fingers crossed for all this though...

JN23 · Post by **JN23** » Fri Dec 11, 2020 1:10 pm

Are there any figures around of how much advantage a brand new engine has over an old engine?

I do seem to remember Mercedes saying it was pretty negligible (0.05 per lap) when they had to delay their upgraded engine at Canada 2018.

Tufty · Post by **Tufty** » Fri Dec 11, 2020 1:12 pm

Checo will surely have a higher engine mode for the race, and presumably won't bother running more than Q1 (to get 19th to be on the correct side of the grid, if my thinking is right) so he'll have a bit more grunt and a vast selection of tyres come Sunday.

JN23 · Post by **JN23** » Fri Dec 11, 2020 1:16 pm

Tufty wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 11, 2020 1:12 pm
Checo will surely have a higher engine mode for the race, and presumably won't bother running more than Q1 (to get 19th to be on the correct side of the grid, if my thinking is right) so he'll have a bit more grunt and a vast selection of tyres come Sunday.

Ah yes, good point in that he should in theory be able to run a higher mode than others.

typaH4okc · Post by **typaH4okc** » Fri Dec 11, 2020 3:26 pm

Wasn't Shwartzman suppose to test with Alfa Romeo here? What happened to that?

Banana Man · Post by **Banana Man** » Fri Dec 11, 2020 7:57 pm

Is there really any point in deleting lap times for track limits in free practice? It’s not as if they count for everything, so really it’s their own time they’re wasting being out there. I know in some exceptional circumstances practice times can be used if qualy is cancelled but I’m sure they could correct that retrospectively if needed.

TheGiantHogweed · Post by **TheGiantHogweed** » Fri Dec 11, 2020 8:12 pm

Banana Man wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 11, 2020 7:57 pm
Is there really any point in deleting lap times for track limits in free practice? It’s not as if they count for everything, so really it’s their own time they’re wasting being out there. I know in some exceptional circumstances practice times can be used if qualy is cancelled but I’m sure they could correct that retrospectively if needed.

Surely it will give the drivers a better impression on what will be the case later on. Don't see any problem with them doing the same all weekend.

Exediron · Post by **Exediron** » Fri Dec 11, 2020 9:57 pm

TheGiantHogweed wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 11, 2020 8:12 pm

Banana Man wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 11, 2020 7:57 pm
Is there really any point in deleting lap times for track limits in free practice? It’s not as if they count for everything, so really it’s their own time they’re wasting being out there. I know in some exceptional circumstances practice times can be used if qualy is cancelled but I’m sure they could correct that retrospectively if needed.
Surely it will give the drivers a better impression on what will be the case later on. Don't see any problem with them doing the same all weekend.

It makes sense to let people practice the limits they'll have to adhere to in the event they're practicing for.

Lord Crc · Post by **Lord Crc** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 7:49 am

Banana Man wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 11, 2020 7:57 pm
Is there really any point in deleting lap times for track limits in free practice?

I can see two uses, for drivers to practice track limits and for the stewards to practice enforcing track limits.

There's also the case for adjusting track limits, but I'm with Brundle on this one, drivers wouldn't complain about track limits if it didn't gain them time.

pokerman · Post by **pokerman** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 12:18 pm

Banana Man wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 11, 2020 7:57 pm
Is there really any point in deleting lap times for track limits in free practice? It’s not as if they count for everything, so really it’s their own time they’re wasting being out there. I know in some exceptional circumstances practice times can be used if qualy is cancelled but I’m sure they could correct that retrospectively if needed.

I think you have to view it as rules are rules and you play to the same rules all weekend, also there's no skill in abusing track limits and there should be no reward for doing it like headline lap times.

Paolo_Lasardi · Post by **Paolo_Lasardi** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 1:21 pm

Phew, Latifi is incredibly bad.

JN23 · Post by **JN23** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 1:42 pm

Better late than never, Ocon outqualified Ricciardo in the dry

TheGiantHogweed · Post by **TheGiantHogweed** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 1:43 pm

Ocon to me is continueing to look that bit better overall towards the end of the season, but the car isn't looking great today.

Schermerhorn · Post by **Schermerhorn** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 1:45 pm

I bet Vettel is glad; only one more race remaining at Ferrari.

I bet he can't wait to get the heck outta there.

F1Tyrant · Post by **F1Tyrant** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 1:47 pm

The real task for Ocon next year is to beat Alonso. However, there is almost no upside for him as he's old and been out for F1 for 2 years.

tootsie323 · Post by **tootsie323** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 1:51 pm

Schermerhorn wrote: ↑
Sat Dec 12, 2020 1:45 pm
I bet Vettel is glad; only one more race remaining at Ferrari.

I bet he can't wait to get the heck outta there.

Pride alone should dictate that he should be closer to Leclerc. I think that the Ferrari is basically reasonably quick but not well balanced. Leclerc is handling this and extracting that speed, Vettel seemingly can't seem to get to grips with it. I sincerely hope that the Racing Aston Martin Point next year is more to his liking.

TheGiantHogweed · Post by **TheGiantHogweed** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 1:54 pm

Albon and verstsppen both looked good there.

Schumacher forever#1 · Sat Dec 12, 2020 1:54 pm

Good job Albon, but please don't let this be an excuse for Red Bull to keep him on

Bacus · Post by **Bacus** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 2:01 pm

ufff, finally Max!

JN23 · Post by **JN23** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 2:01 pm

That must have been a great lap from Norris.

F1Tyrant · Post by **F1Tyrant** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 2:01 pm

What a lap by Max!

tootsie323 · Post by **tootsie323** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 2:01 pm

Ooh, go Max!

Bacus · Post by **Bacus** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 2:02 pm

I'm so glad there's a non-Merc in P1. Fresh air.

Schermerhorn · Post by **Schermerhorn** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 2:03 pm

Awesome from Max.

A statement of intent,

JN23 · Post by **JN23** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 2:04 pm

Great effort from Verstappen too. Should set it up nicely for tomorrow

Schumacher forever#1 · Sat Dec 12, 2020 2:04 pm

A warning sign for 2021?

Paolo_Lasardi · Post by **Paolo_Lasardi** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 2:05 pm

Great laps from Verstappen, Norris, and Kvyat.

JN23 · Post by **JN23** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 2:06 pm

I think that sets the winter up well.

‘Have Red Bull finally caught Mercedes?’

Australia: Mercedes lock out the front row by a second.

F1Tyrant · Post by **F1Tyrant** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 2:06 pm

Korea 2011 vibes about this pole lap!

Schermerhorn · Post by **Schermerhorn** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 2:09 pm

Schumacher forever#1 wrote: ↑
Sat Dec 12, 2020 2:04 pm
A warning sign for 2021?

I can't see Red Bull overcoming their inherent car deficiencies they have to Mercedes.

Invade · Post by **Invade** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 2:14 pm

Albon surprisingly close to Verstappen this weekend, but then Max puts some fair distance between them again at the last, though the gap is much smaller than usual. Somehow the conditions and the track here really squashed the qualifying times at the front, with Norris pretty close to Mercedes and Red Bull.