• 2011 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Mercedes GP Preview

                    
      		   
      Published on 11-07-2011 07:38 PM
      29 Comments Comments
      The penultimate race of the 2011 Formula One World Championship takes place in Abu Dhabi. Round 18 will be hosted at the Yas Marina Circuit and is the season’s only day-night race. The light are switched on from the start of the race to ensure a seemless transition from day light to darkness. The first F1 race in Abu Dhabi was held in 2009 as the last race on the calender. Jessen Button had already secured the world title with Brawn GP(now Mercedes GP), while Sebastian Vettel and Rubens Barichello were battling for second place. Sebastian Vettel would go on to win the race, while polesitter Lewis Hamilton retired on lap 18 with brake failure.

      In 2010, the race provided more excitement, as the F1 championship title was still up for grabs. Ferrari's Fernando Alonso was leading the Red Bull drivers, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel by 8 and 15 points respectively. Mclaren's Lewis Hamilton was mathmaticaly still in the race as he was 24 points behind Alonso. Sebastian Vettel would go on to win the race and the championship by 4 points, after Alonso and Webber were both stuck behind 6th place finisher Vitaly Petrov for the final 37 laps. With that win Vettel became the youngest ever F1 world Champion

      Even though Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull have claimed the Driver's and Constructor's Championships, all driver and teams are still looking to improver their standings. In the Mercedes GP stable, only 5 points separate Rosberg and Schumacher. Schumacher has steadily improved and has finished ahead of his teammate four times in the last six races. Nico is still remains upbeat and happy that the Mercedes GP team has improved and is hoping to challenge the faster teams and even possibly score a podium finish in the remaining two races of the season.

      From Michael's perspective,

      Nico believes that Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi is another great Hermann Tilke-designed track:

      For Ross,

      Norbert believes that

      F1 TIMETABLE(Local Time)
      Fri 11 November 2011
      Practice 1       13:00 - 14:30
      Practice 2 17:00 - 18:30
      Sat 12 November 2011
      Practice 3       14:00 - 15:00
      Qualifying 17:00
      Sun 13 November 2011
      Race       17:00

      F1 TIMETABLE(Eastern Time)
      Fri 11 November 2011
      Practice 1       04:00 - 05:30
      Practice 2 08:00 - 09:30
      Sat 12 November 2011
      Practice 3       05:00 - 06:00
      Qualifying 08:00
      Sun 13 November 2011
      Race       08:00

      F1 TIMETABLE(Western Time)
      Fri 11 November 2011
      Practice 1       01:00 - 02:30
      Practice 2 05:00 - 06:30
      Sat 12 November 2011
      Practice 3       02:00 - 03:00
      Qualifying 05:00
      Sun 13 November 2010
      Race       05:00








      This article was originally published in forum thread: 2011 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Mercedes GP Preview started by Scourge82 View original post
      Comments 28 Comments
      1. Scourge82's Avatar
        Scourge82 - 11-08-2011, 04:34 AM
        It's an ok race to me. I don't care if it stays on the calender or not. Just like with any other street race, there's not really much overtaking. I'm not really big on countries that have no motorsport history getting to host a grand prix. Again another rant on Bernie. All he cares about is who will pay the most to host a race, regardless if a crowd will show or not.

        The new curcuits like in Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, China, Korea, etc. are more of a political trophy that don't even have a grassroot in local motorsport history, let alone F1. So I don't see them succeeding in the long term. F1 needs to work on maintaining its current fans rather than alienating them and going to countries that have no clue about motorsports.
      1. DavidV's Avatar
        DavidV - 11-08-2011, 05:41 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Scourge82 Click here to enlarge
        F1 needs to work on maintaining its current fans rather than alienating them and going to countries that have no clue about motorsports
        I totally agree with you there.
        But as long as Ecclestone has the final word, most new locations are just moneytrails.
        Let's hope that Austin 2012 and New Jersey 2013 will be a breaking with this "tradition".
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 11-08-2011, 07:42 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Scourge82 Click here to enlarge
        I'm not really big on countries that have no motorsport history getting to host a grand prix.
        I think this is a pretty good point and I agree with it.
      1. DavidV's Avatar
        DavidV - 11-12-2011, 09:15 AM
        Vettel snags the pole in an exiting last session of quali.
        He equals Nigel Mansell's record 14 poles in one season.
        Very impressive performance.
        MS losing .8 on Rosberg, having them starting 7th and 8th
      1. Scourge82's Avatar
        Scourge82 - 11-12-2011, 09:15 AM
        Vettel snatches pole again. He matches Nigel Mansell's record of 14 pole positions in one season.

        1 Sebastian Vettel Click here to enlarge 1 Click here to enlarge Red Bull 16 in pits
        2 Lewis Hamilton Click here to enlarge 3 Click here to enlarge McLaren 15 in pits
        3 Jenson Button Click here to enlarge 4 Click here to enlarge McLaren 14 in pits
        4 Mark Webber Click here to enlarge 2 Click here to enlarge Red Bull 19 in pits
        5 Fernando Alonso Click here to enlarge 5 Click here to enlarge Ferrari 16 in pits
        6 Felipe Massa Click here to enlarge 6 Click here to enlarge Ferrari 20 in pits
        7 Nico Rosberg Click here to enlarge 8 Click here to enlarge Mercedes-Benz 17 in pits
        8 Michael Schumacher Click here to enlarge 7 Click here to enlarge Mercedes-Benz 18 in pits
        9 Adrian Sutil Click here to enlarge 14 Click here to enlarge Force India 17 in pits
        10 Paul di Resta Click here to enlarge 15 Click here to enlarge Force India 15 in pits
        11 Sergio Perez Click here to enlarge 17 Click here to enlarge Sauber 18 in pits
        12 Vitaly Petrov Click here to enlarge 10 Click here to enlarge Renault 18 in pits
        13 Sébastien Buemi Click here to enlarge 18 Click here to enlarge Toro Rosso 15 in pits
        14 Bruno Senna Click here to enlarge 9 Click here to enlarge Renault 15 in pits
        15 Jaime Alguersuari Click here to enlarge 19 Click here to enlarge Toro Rosso 16 in pits
        16 Kamui Kobayashi Click here to enlarge 16 Click here to enlarge Sauber 17 in pits
        17 Pastor Maldonado Click here to enlarge 12 Click here to enlarge Williams 13 in pits
        18 Heikki Kovalainen Click here to enlarge 20 Click here to enlarge Lotus 11 in pits
        19 Jarno Trulli Click here to enlarge 21 Click here to enlarge Lotus 11 in pits
        20 Timo Glock Click here to enlarge 24 Click here to enlarge Virgin 9 in pits
        21 Daniel Ricciardo Click here to enlarge 23 Click here to enlarge HRT 9 in pits
        22 Jérôme d'Ambrosio Click here to enlarge 25 Click here to enlarge Virgin 8 in pits
        23 Tonio Liuzzi Click here to enlarge 23 Click here to enlarge HRT 8 in pits
        24 Rubens Barrichello Click here to enlarge 11 Click here to enlarge Williams 0 in pits

        Great qualifying in the final moments. Button, Hamilton, and Vettel gave it their all try and snatch pole position.
      1. Scourge82's Avatar
        Scourge82 - 11-12-2011, 09:15 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by DavidV Click here to enlarge
        Vettel snags the pole in an exiting last session of quali.
        He equals Nigel Mansell's record 14 poles in one season.
        Very impressive performance.
        MS losing .8 on Rosberg, having them starting 7th and 8th
        Beat me to it David, lol
      1. DavidV's Avatar
        DavidV - 11-12-2011, 09:18 AM
        Click here to enlarge
        I am not digging the Mc Laren race overalls this race.
        They have been wearing different ones at all races, but this blue, red with yellow palmtrees is hideous
      1. Scourge82's Avatar
        Scourge82 - 11-12-2011, 09:20 AM
        me neither, they are aweful, the team fashion designer needs to be fired. Did they ever say what happened to Barichello? He never did a lap on qualifying.
      1. DavidV's Avatar
        DavidV - 11-12-2011, 09:37 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Scourge82 Click here to enlarge
        me neither, they are aweful, the team fashion designer needs to be fired. Did they ever say what happened to Barichello? He never did a lap on qualifying.
        Yes, he.needed his last (8th) engine for this race, and it was not working well.
        He did 2 timed laps yesterday in free practice, but this morning had to come in right after he left the pits.
        They just could not get it to.work the way it should.
        Not in time.fot qualification amyways.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 11-12-2011, 11:04 AM
        Well, it is getting pretty boring posting qualifying reports with Vettel having the pole almost every time. This marks his 14th pole of the season tying the record for number of pole positions for one season set by Nigel Mansell. Nico Rosberg qualified in 7th followed immediately by Michael Schumacher in the 8th spot. Vettel will have a chance to break the record at the last race of the season in Brazil at the end of this month.

        Click here to enlarge

        1 Sebastian Vettel Click here to enlarge 1 Click here to enlarge Red Bull 16 in pits
        2 Lewis Hamilton Click here to enlarge 3 Click here to enlarge McLaren 15 in pits
        3 Jenson Button Click here to enlarge 4 Click here to enlarge McLaren 14 in pits
        4 Mark Webber Click here to enlarge 2 Click here to enlarge Red Bull 19 in pits
        5 Fernando Alonso Click here to enlarge 5 Click here to enlarge Ferrari 16 in pits
        6 Felipe Massa Click here to enlarge 6 Click here to enlarge Ferrari 20 in pits
        7 Nico Rosberg Click here to enlarge 8 Click here to enlarge Mercedes-Benz 17 in pits
        8 Michael Schumacher Click here to enlarge 7 Click here to enlarge Mercedes-Benz 18 in pits
        9 Adrian Sutil Click here to enlarge 14 Click here to enlarge Force India 17 in pits
        10 Paul di Resta Click here to enlarge 15 Click here to enlarge Force India 15 in pits
        11 Sergio Perez Click here to enlarge 17 Click here to enlarge Sauber 18 in pits
        12 Vitaly Petrov Click here to enlarge 10 Click here to enlarge Renault 18 in pits
        13 Sébastien Buemi Click here to enlarge 18 Click here to enlarge Toro Rosso 15 in pits
        14 Bruno Senna Click here to enlarge 9 Click here to enlarge Renault 15 in pits
        15 Jaime Alguersuari Click here to enlarge 19 Click here to enlarge Toro Rosso 16 in pits
        16 Kamui Kobayashi Click here to enlarge 16 Click here to enlarge Sauber 17 in pits
        17 Pastor Maldonado Click here to enlarge 12 Click here to enlarge Williams 13 in pits
        18 Heikki Kovalainen Click here to enlarge 20 Click here to enlarge Lotus 11 in pits
        19 Jarno Trulli Click here to enlarge 21 Click here to enlarge Lotus 11 in pits
        20 Timo Glock Click here to enlarge 24 Click here to enlarge Virgin 9 in pits
        21 Daniel Ricciardo Click here to enlarge 23 Click here to enlarge HRT 9 in pits
        22 Jérôme d'Ambrosio Click here to enlarge 25 Click here to enlarge Virgin 8 in pits
        23 Tonio Liuzzi Click here to enlarge 23 Click here to enlarge HRT 8 in pits
        24 Rubens Barrichello Click here to enlarge 11 Click here to enlarge Williams 0 in pits
      1. Scourge82's Avatar
        Scourge82 - 11-12-2011, 02:23 PM
        Thanks for doing the qualifying report. I was busy having fun with installing and playing with my JB4 on the carClick here to enlarge I'll make sure the race report is perfect.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 11-12-2011, 02:28 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Scourge82 Click here to enlarge
        Thanks for doing the qualifying report. I was busy having fun with installing and playing with my JB4 on the carClick here to enlarge I'll make sure the race report is perfect.
        No worries, mine are never as good as yours.
      1. Yukohama's Avatar
        Yukohama - 11-12-2011, 03:43 PM
        Vettel wins again, man that guy is good... i'll have to download the broadcast
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 11-12-2011, 03:54 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Yukohama Click here to enlarge
        Vettel wins again, man that guy is good... i'll have to download the broadcast
        Race is over? He won?
      1. Yukohama's Avatar
        Yukohama - 11-12-2011, 04:08 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sticky Click here to enlarge
        Race is over? He won?
        slight sarcasm in there, seeing as Vettel has won nearly all the races this season.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 11-12-2011, 04:34 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Yukohama Click here to enlarge
        slight sarcasm in there, seeing as Vettel has won nearly all the races this season.
        You had me scared I was missing an update.
      1. Scourge82's Avatar
        Scourge82 - 11-13-2011, 08:04 AM
        Vettel punctured his tire on the first corner and is in the very back!
      1. Scourge82's Avatar
        Scourge82 - 11-13-2011, 08:07 AM
        Vettel's race is over, Hamilton leading, with Alonso, and Button in the top 3. Rosberg 6th and Schumi is 7th.
      1. DavidV's Avatar
        DavidV - 11-13-2011, 08:13 AM
        Vettel is not gonna win this one Click here to enlarge
        Hefty fight between MS and Rosberg at the start
      1. Scourge82's Avatar
        Scourge82 - 11-13-2011, 08:18 AM
        Poor Vettel, at least he's got Bernie to get him through it. It looks like MS is staying back, saving his tires now. He might try to pass him through the pits like the last race.
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