2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Race Thread

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 4:33 pm

Source - Imgur

Tomorrow's race should be exciting on many fronts!

Zazu · Post by **Zazu** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 5:35 pm

Tyres were struggling in qualifying and its a nailed on one stopper. Hamiltons already blamed getting beaten in qual on not being 100% so think anyone expecting excitement is going to be disappointed

Option or Prime · Post by **Option or Prime** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 5:53 pm

Are you suggesting that Hamilton is getting his excuse in early for not winning the race?
If so that is pretty low in my opinion. Hamilton is just not one for excuses, he is an all in competitor who will give credit when beaten to the winner.
The race is tomorrow, if Bottas and Verstappen can't stay in front of a recovering driver then its a pretty poor showing. Lets wait till the race shall we.

Zazu · Post by **Zazu** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 8:56 pm

He's already made the excuse post qually saying he wasn't 100%

Asphalt_World · Post by **Asphalt_World** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 9:05 pm

Zazu wrote: ↑
Sat Dec 12, 2020 8:56 pm
He's already made the excuse post qually saying he wasn't 100%

So, you're saying that's an excuse, rather than a reason because the difference between excuse and reason is significant.

F1_Ernie · Post by **F1_Ernie** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 9:08 pm

Will be a boring 1 stopper on a poor track which is difficult to overtake. I still believe Mercedes should win if all 3 cars are close together in a 2v1 scenario.

Zazu · Post by **Zazu** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 9:42 pm

Asphalt_World wrote: ↑
Sat Dec 12, 2020 9:05 pm

Zazu wrote: ↑
Sat Dec 12, 2020 8:56 pm
He's already made the excuse post qually saying he wasn't 100%
So, you're saying that's an excuse, rather than a reason because the difference between excuse and reason is significant.

He also blabbered on about the time taken to reacclinatise to driving the car. Its been two weeks, like the standard gap in a normal season....

Banana Man · Post by **Banana Man** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 9:46 pm

I’m predicting a fairly dull Ham Bot Ver, with the former putting in the required laps during the pit stops to jump the other two, whilst looking after his rubber better than Bot. Also Perez to work his way up the field and finish 4th after starting on fresh tyres and going long. McLarens fade away with disappointing pace, handing RP 3rd in the constructors.

Asphalt_World · Post by **Asphalt_World** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 10:03 pm

Zazu wrote: ↑
Sat Dec 12, 2020 9:42 pm

Asphalt_World wrote: ↑
Sat Dec 12, 2020 9:05 pm

Zazu wrote: ↑
Sat Dec 12, 2020 8:56 pm
He's already made the excuse post qually saying he wasn't 100%
So, you're saying that's an excuse, rather than a reason because the difference between excuse and reason is significant.
He also blabbered on about the time taken to reacclinatise to driving the car. Its been two weeks, like the standard gap in a normal season....

Yes. 2 weeks, whilst others haven't had to wait two weeks, nor have they been ill.

Blimey!

Option or Prime · Post by **Option or Prime** » Sat Dec 12, 2020 10:24 pm

Asphalt_World wrote: ↑
Sat Dec 12, 2020 10:03 pm

Zazu wrote: ↑
Sat Dec 12, 2020 9:42 pm

Asphalt_World wrote: ↑
Sat Dec 12, 2020 9:05 pm

Zazu wrote: ↑
Sat Dec 12, 2020 8:56 pm
He's already made the excuse post qually saying he wasn't 100%
So, you're saying that's an excuse, rather than a reason because the difference between excuse and reason is significant.
He also blabbered on about the time taken to reacclinatise to driving the car. Its been two weeks, like the standard gap in a normal season....
Yes. 2 weeks, whilst others haven't had to wait two weeks, nor have they been ill.

Blimey!

+1 That's a very weird and intolerant perception Zazu!

Lord Crc · Post by **Lord Crc** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 5:47 am

Zazu wrote: ↑
Sat Dec 12, 2020 9:42 pm
He also blabbered on about the time taken to reacclinatise to driving the car. Its been two weeks, like the standard gap in a normal season....

When they have their 2 week gap between races, the drivers more or less sit in the simulator all day err day. I'm pretty sure Hamilton hasn't done that while being sick.

Yea he's a top driver so it's probably not a huge difference we're talking about here, but then again it's Formula 1 and the difference between pole and not pole is ridiculously tiny.

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 9:09 am

Tyres available:

Source - Imgur

Good_Year · Post by **Good_Year** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 10:32 am

Max HAS to win today surely.

He should have more than 1 win this season, potentially 4, (Silverstone 1, Turkey, Sahkir)

Is this the sort of Career he is going to have, missed opportunities while a slower more consistent driver finishes ahead of him in the Championship (in this case Bottas)

Equally, Bottas, it may already be over, but he can certainly make a statement today, beat max and he'll keep the wolves from the door for a while yet.

You never know, expectations are low for excitement so here comes Danny Ric to Win.

Oh and Vettel will get screwed at some point as a leaving present.

Option or Prime · Post by **Option or Prime** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 11:06 am

Sort of hoping for a Norris podium, don't expect it but you never know!

Banana Man · Post by **Banana Man** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 11:27 am

Good_Year wrote: ↑
Sun Dec 13, 2020 10:32 am
Max HAS to win today surely.

He should have more than 1 win this season, potentially 4, (Silverstone 1, Turkey, Sahkir)

Is this the sort of Career he is going to have, missed opportunities while a slower more consistent driver finishes ahead of him in the Championship (in this case Bottas)

Equally, Bottas, it may already be over, but he can certainly make a statement today, beat max and he'll keep the wolves from the door for a while yet.

You never know, expectations are low for excitement so here comes Danny Ric to Win.

Oh and Vettel will get screwed at some point as a leaving present.

With all three of those you’re basically having to assume misfortune befouls Mercedes and other drivers but not Max, which doesn’t really suggest he ‘should have’ won any of them. He was never in the lead of any of those races, that I can recall.

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 11:35 am

Pit strategy options as per Pirelli:

Source - Imgur

Pirelli also did suggest a vice versa route for the fastest pit strategy (Medium to hard) - Hard to medium which I would expect Checo to take. Go as far as possible on hards & then do the other half stint on mediums which is the best tyre compound in terms of speed & durability.

TheGiantHogweed · Post by **TheGiantHogweed** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 12:47 pm

Well, I'm at the end of my subscription for sky again this year and every time, i have to think hard if it is worth it the following year. I find their coverage right now ridiculous. Showing pre recorded clips that have already been shown a whole load of times during the "live" race build up. This is pathetic. Paying for repeats of what I have seen. Channel 4 don't just take the same piece of footage in their highlights build up and waste time. I can't understand why they show this hamilton vs rossi now. Why not in a separate program?

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 12:54 pm

This race is quite special in a way. Some drivers are retiring or leaving F1 after this whereas some will be driving their last race for their respective teams before switching to another.

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:09 pm

I wanted Checo to start on hards. He's just doing that!

Greenman · Post by **Greenman** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:16 pm

.

One day Bottas will impress.

.

TheGiantHogweed · Post by **TheGiantHogweed** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:21 pm

Hamilton and Bottas have both dropped right back with a 2.5 second cap between the car ahead. Do wonder if they are going to extend the stint.

F1Tyrant · Post by **F1Tyrant** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:24 pm

This will probably be a snore fest until the pit stops and again at the close if a tyre differential will make a difference.

TheGiantHogweed · Post by **TheGiantHogweed** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:24 pm

if the mercedes don't speed up, albon will likely catch up. Although by the time he does, I think his tyres will be past their best.

F1Tyrant · Post by **F1Tyrant** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:27 pm

Albon can't live with the pace of the leaders but 4th might be enough to keep his seat.

tootsie323 · Post by **tootsie323** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:27 pm

I guess that Ricciardo will be motivated to (ultimately) get past Stroll, considering who he'll be driving for next hear!

Schumacher forever#1 · Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:28 pm

Perez doing well so far - hopefully can snatch 5th in the end.

lucifers · Post by **lucifers** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:30 pm

you've got to be kidding me, oh no perez

Greenman · Post by **Greenman** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:30 pm

.

Shame for Perez and Racing Point.

.

tootsie323 · Post by **tootsie323** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:30 pm

Oh, pants...

Schumacher forever#1 · Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:30 pm

Schumacher forever#1 wrote: ↑
Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:28 pm
Perez doing well so far - hopefully can snatch 5th in the end.

my bad

tootsie323 · Post by **tootsie323** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:31 pm

Guess it's a two-stopper then..!

Schumacher forever#1 · Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:32 pm

Mercedes not splitting?!

F1Tyrant · Post by **F1Tyrant** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:32 pm

Race is dead now

lucifers · Post by **lucifers** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:34 pm

Schumacher forever#1 wrote: ↑
Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:32 pm
Mercedes not splitting?!

boring merc, they should have split they have nothing to loose

F1Tyrant · Post by **F1Tyrant** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:34 pm

If the Mercedes had split the strategy the driver that stayed out would have leapfrogged Max by pitting under full safety car.

Mercedes lost nothing by trying that.

Greenman · Post by **Greenman** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:35 pm

.

It's going to be a long tedious afternoon.

.

cmax · Post by **cmax** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:42 pm

Lewis doesn't look very punchy today.

tootsie323 · Post by **tootsie323** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:47 pm

Sainz under investigation for driving unnecessarily slowly into the pits. That might have an impact in the fight between RP and Macca for the WCC 3rd spot.

F1Tyrant · Post by **F1Tyrant** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:49 pm

cmax wrote: ↑
Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:42 pm
Lewis doesn't look very punchy today.

I don't think Hamilton has overtaken a leading car in open racing here. Only off the start in 2014.

It's a combination of a track where it's tough to overtake and he's still recovering from COVID-19.

tootsie323 · Post by **tootsie323** » Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:52 pm

Greenman wrote: ↑
Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:35 pm
.

It's going to be a long tedious afternoon.

.

At the front maybe. Plenty to play for behind.