Grand Prix 2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

Welcome to the final PQR thread for 2020 and the first design-your-own.

Pick and choose the bits you want to read and post about.

Or you can read a proper write up here: Grand Prix - 2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion


The important bit first - human rights:

World Report 2019: Rights Trends in United Arab Emirates

www.hrw.org

Human rights in United Arab Emirates

Stay up to date on the state of human rights in United Arab Emirates with the latest research, campaigns and education material from Amnesty International.

www.amnesty.org

Human rights in the United Arab Emirates - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Previous GP discussion, etc.:

Grand Prix - 2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

BradMan was down to do this thread, as he seems to not be around :( I stepped in on his behalf. Here we are then, the last race of the season and what a season it's been. Ferrari showed so much promise in testing but then it all faded away as we started to race. All bark and no bite as you...

cliptheapex.com

Grand Prix - 2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

Aaaaaahhh, that wonderful place, renowned for its proximity to the sea and proud history of mercantile endeavour, the place that attracts many tourists to its wonderful coastline, fabulous welcome and no surprise then that property is costly and much sought after. Wonderous views of the...

cliptheapex.com

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...

cliptheapex.com

Circuit history, result, and records:

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2020 - F1 Race

united-arab-emirates

www.formula1.com

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Chit chat, blah blah:
Hamilton may not make the race due to COVID-19, so Russell may get another drive.
Or maybe they'll just put a tub of lard in the car, a la Have I Got News For You.

Will Bottas underwhelm again?

Will Vettel even bother to turn up this time?

Enjoy.

 

[F1Brits_90]

 

[olegg]

 

[olegg]

 

[Galahad]

Ocon really has been shit, hasn't he?

 

[The Artist.....]

Galahad - it's really frustrating seeing the drivers who get to keep seats in F1....

• Ocon
• Latifi
• Stroll
• ... Bottas

I'm really glad that Haas had the bravery to drop both of its drivers (although I'm much less happy with replacing them with Mazepin...)

Every so often, F1 needs to clear out the old-guard... I remember Coulthard continuing to sit in a seat that he wasn't really doing anything with (at McLaren)...

 

[FB]

Well there you go, a race dominated by Max Verstappen in a Red Bull is just as dull as one dominated by Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes. I write this at about half distance, let's hope something happens in the remaining laps.

 

[Greenlantern101]

This is the dullest thing that has ever happened.

 

[The Artist.....]

Greenlantern101 - Mercedes should have kept Russell for the weekend, and then we'd have had a proper race.... (No-one can prove I'm wrong!)

 

[siffert_fan]

Mercedes had engines turned down in Abu Dhabi

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has confirmed their engines are using less power at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix due to reliability concerns.

www.planetf1.com

 

[The Artist.....]

I'm really frustrated that Hamilton has now said that he was massively below form today...

Hamilton "massively" affected by COVID aftereffects in F1 Abu Dhabi GP

Lewis Hamilton confessed to feeling 'massively' below par in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as the Formula 1 world champion said the ongoing impact of coronavirus continued to plague him

www.autosport.com

Being an F1 driver is a privilege, and personally, I think that if you are that unwell, you're putting yourself at risk

 

[F1Brits_90]

caught up with GP. absoutely dreadful. but typical for abu dhabi only 2010 maybe 2012 was any good, 1 of the strangest races ive seen from lewis in his career. i think ive seen. because it the 1st time ive ever say of a driver, i wonder what he could he have done despite seeing what he couldve done if he was 2nd. i know that lewis hamilton historically has a performance dip. after he;s won the title after all in 2015 he came 2nd to rosberg in the final 4 races in a row. this could be easily be covid as ive explained above with glen durrant was still struggling 2 months later. but it was like Lewis was so worried about being in the dirty air & maintaining the gap. he just wasnt bothered or forgot about overtaking. just drove in 1st gear all race

but impressive from max on winning the race, he was never in danger at all it was really comfortable, if red bull turn up start of the season like they do towards the end for 1st time since 2013. we could have a good title battle. because if he can finish only 9 pts behind bottas with unreliablity & 2 or 3 races being taken out. imagine if he had a car that could fight over the whole season not just final half

Brilliant achievement from Mclaren to finish 3rd & with a mercedes engine & riccardio im expecting big things from them in 2021. but you feel for racing point they deserved 3rd on track performances but the 2 engine blown in bahrain & abu dhabi have cost them a certain 3rd place

 

[F1Brits_90]

I'm really frustrated that Hamilton has now said that he was massively below form today...

Hamilton "massively" affected by COVID aftereffects in F1 Abu Dhabi GP

Lewis Hamilton confessed to feeling 'massively' below par in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as the Formula 1 world champion said the ongoing impact of coronavirus continued to plague him

www.autosport.com

Being an F1 driver is a privilege, and personally, I think that if you are that unwell, you're putting yourself at risk

i cant remember who but a manager was talking about a player. who was a doubt for the FA Cup Final.
he was asked "will you ask him if he fit enough for the Final"
he said "no because if ask him he's not going to tell me the truth"

 

[P1]

I'm really frustrated that Hamilton has now said that he was massively below form today...

Hamilton "massively" affected by COVID aftereffects in F1 Abu Dhabi GP

Lewis Hamilton confessed to feeling 'massively' below par in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as the Formula 1 world champion said the ongoing impact of coronavirus continued to plague him

www.autosport.com

Being an F1 driver is a privilege, and personally, I think that if you are that unwell, you're putting yourself at risk

It's a matter of degree. I mean he kept pace with Bottas the entire race seat whatever level he was, he can't have been hugely diminished.

 

[The Artist.....]

P1 - this is Bottas we’re talking about...

I think the important question is the “what if?” question... fighter pilots are grounded if they‘re unwell... I don’t blame Hamilton, I blame Mercedes, who should have had the guts to say that he was too unwell to compete!

 

[-WBF1-]

P1 - this is Bottas we’re talking about...

I think the important question is the “what if?” question... fighter pilots are grounded if they‘re unwell... I don’t blame Hamilton, I blame Mercedes, who should have had the guts to say that he was too unwell to compete!

The tin foil part of of my brain, makes me think that Hamilton was asked to work as rear gunner to ensure Bottas got 2nd in the drivers champ. Especially when he asked it Bottas had a problem.

Not sure if Russell would have not had a go.

 

[P1]

I also think the red bull performance is so good that it means Mercedes may need its two best drivers in the cars next year. It strengthens the case for doing a Bottas Russell swap. Or fire Bottas, and get Russell, freeing up room for Perez at Williams.

 

[F1Brits_90]

P1 according to ted Kravitz. perez to red bull is sealed

 

[rufus_mcdufus]

P1 according to ted Kravitz. perez to red bull is sealed

Could be an interesting pairing, as Perez is a somewhat abrasive personality according to accounts I've read.

 

[cider_and_toast]

Indeed.

Wasn't that why his time at McLaren consisted of a single season?

The rumour at the time was that he wasn't particularly easy to get on with.

 

[Johnny Carwash]

Regardless of whether the season was boring ( Mercedes just to good ), have to give a huge shout out to everyone involved in managing to make a 17 race season possible.