Grand Prix 2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

So it’s Formula One’s tribute act to New Years’ Eve: an interminable and unexciting pre-amble to ten minutes of fireworks then the vain hope that next year will be better.

Ok, so that’s the least optimistic take ever, but Abu Dhabi has only really produced one race that is memorable for being a great race - 2012 - and we all recall the radio calls of the winner more than the action.

Brazil suggests that Hamilton’s Mercedes (with the 2018 engine) is the best around, but they’ve not shown much pace at night this year even if circumstances conspired to deliver victory in Singapore. There’s usually a multi-chassis race in the top six, somewhere.

It’s the end of an error, erm... era, at Woking as McLaren bail from the Honda project. Toro Rosso are currently showing them how easy Renault can be to work with.

Most will expect the pink Force Indias to be followed home by yellow, orange and white machinery with the Heartgas partnership at Toro Rosso around too.

Sauber will probably bring up the rear. Nice to mention them?

A season that promised a title race for the ages has delivered a remarkably damp squib. All we can say, Formula One, is see you in 2018.

 

[RasputinLives]

I'm with jez101 they did listen to the popular opinion and it made it worse. Has happened about 4 times in the last three years. Of course the fans are only saying it because the media is convincing them that's the way to do things....and of course the media is only saying it because the teams are telling them.....which is of course your actual problem. The sport is being ruled and run by the manufacturers who will never vote for anything that Isn't in their favour. We all know a significant reduction in Aero on the cars would mean they could follow and overtake. We've known this for years, we can see it in other racing series...but somehow the idea is not suggested. Why? Well because a lot of the teams have spent a lot of money on it and that's where their advantage comes from.

I think F1 needs to stop listening to us and everyone else. It needs someone in charge to design a set of rules that will make it a competitive sport and tell the teams they either play by them or sod off. Some would sod off but make it reasonably priced and someone would fill the position.

Anyways. Abu Dhabi. Yay!

 

[cider_and_toast]

Every time I read the results of a global motorsport fan survey I want to punch my monitor screen.

Ferrari great....blah blah blah....bring back refuelling....blah....blah....blah....

 

[Greenlantern101]

 

[The Pits]

"If I had asked what people wanted, they would have asked for a faster horse"

My personal opinion, is that I should not be asked what the solution to the issue is. I can be asked to help identify the issue. The solution needs to be created by intelligent people who know what they are talking about. I can tell them the bits that I do not enjoy, and the bits I do, what gets me to the edge of my seat etc. etc. and I think that this is where some issues occur. Any solution that I would define will be directly linked to my knowledge and experience, as such cannot be passed off as relevant.

 

[RasputinLives]

Greenlantern101 I really want to believe that but the individual in question spent his career working with Flavio Briatore and Jean Todt as well as taking advantage of loop holes in rules. I just have my doubts he is out for anyone but himself.

 

[cider_and_toast]

I think we should let Christian Horner sort it out. He'd be perfect. Here's some footage of Christian naming his best ever England football team......

 

[OvertakingIsTheBest]

Today I have realised that this is the last Formula One race without the halo...

 

[vintly]

Until the halo causes more problems than it solves.

 

[FB]

I think they should let Automobile Club de l'Ouest sort out F1.

 

[rufus_mcdufus]

I've liked the extra speed this year. The key problem as far as I can tell seems to be aero/dirty air behind the cars. A lot of the other stuff that's taken years to hone, general racing rules, qually format etc. I personally think are pretty good now. Maybe the blue flag rules could be changed or abolished.

 

[vintly]

The over-dependence on aero will take years to fix, but Liberty are committed and vastly superior to Bernie in terms of making sensible choices for the good of the sport, and with Brawn at the helm we should be confident in the medium and long-term health of F1.

If Ferrari hadn’t tripped over themselves it could have been a classic year, albeit marred by dirty air. Anyway, five in a row for Merc really would be a drag so hopefully next year will bring a change.

Abu Dhabi is nothing more than a farewell for the year, but I’ll watch every second with interest.

 

[Titch]

So.. dirty air. What’s the solution?

 

[Bill Boddy]

So.. dirty air. What’s the solution?

Race on the moon? Not much good for the engines but then any solution will have side effects.

 

[gethinceri]

1:30

 

[Wombcat]

So.. dirty air. What’s the solution?

Clean it?

 

[Titch]

Good idea ..... you have the answer then ?

 

[Wombcat]

No, I was paraprahasing Trump with his clean coal.

But building on the idea: a rainshower does help.

 

[olegg]

 

[olegg]

 

[F1Brits_90]

interesting to see some new sponsors at the yas marina circuit. as international rescue have seemingly moved into banking