2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina, Dec 10 - 12

[the poster below]

Going by Wikipedia race summaries from 2009 to 2020 for this track, there have only been four safety cars - one in 2010 (MSC spin soon after the start), two in 2012, and Hulkenberg's acrobatics in 2018. Does that sound right?

If it's correct then statistically at least it feels like we probably won't see a safety car, so arguably less important for the title contenders to mirror each other on strategy to mitigate risk of a safety car period.

Of course, that was on the old layout...

[west52keep64]

It won't even be close. The Mercedes at this point in the season is utterly dominant, just like they were in 2017 or 2018. The changes to the Yas Marina circuit massively benefit and favor the Mercedes, and it was already one of their strongest tracks. 2020 was an outlier, as they were trialling 2021 parts and had turned down their power units.

With that new Brazil-spec engine in the back of Hamilton's Mercedes, I fully expect him to take pole, clear Max at the start, and dominate the entire race, possibly leading every lap. Sure the new tyre compounds disadvantage Mercedes slightly, but we have seen that they unlocked the W12's setup completely, and I doubt it will be a major factor. If Max by some miracle succeeds in taking pole, then we will see a repeat of Barcelona or even Saudi Arabia, where Lewis simply sits 1 second behind him, the pace of the car allowing him to negate the effects of dirty air. Then he will simply breeze by him down one of the long straights. I doubt that the two will even meet on track past the very first lap to be honest, and if Max tries to take Lewis out the FIA will simply slap him with a points penalty to give Lewis his 8th championship.

The title fight was good while it lasted. See you in 2022.

So much defeatist nonsense. Are these just "bot" accounts that post this repetitive rubbish? Verstappen in the Red Bull has every chance of winning the WDC this weekend. For all we know Hamilton has an engine failure, or a bad pitstop, or a puncture, etc.

[El Scorchio]

It won't even be close. The Mercedes at this point in the season is utterly dominant, just like they were in 2017 or 2018. The changes to the Yas Marina circuit massively benefit and favor the Mercedes, and it was already one of their strongest tracks. 2020 was an outlier, as they were trialling 2021 parts and had turned down their power units.

With that new Brazil-spec engine in the back of Hamilton's Mercedes, I fully expect him to take pole, clear Max at the start, and dominate the entire race, possibly leading every lap. Sure the new tyre compounds disadvantage Mercedes slightly, but we have seen that they unlocked the W12's setup completely, and I doubt it will be a major factor. If Max by some miracle succeeds in taking pole, then we will see a repeat of Barcelona or even Saudi Arabia, where Lewis simply sits 1 second behind him, the pace of the car allowing him to negate the effects of dirty air. Then he will simply breeze by him down one of the long straights. I doubt that the two will even meet on track past the very first lap to be honest, and if Max tries to take Lewis out the FIA will simply slap him with a points penalty to give Lewis his 8th championship.

The title fight was good while it lasted. See you in 2022.

So much defeatist nonsense. Are these just "bot" accounts that post this repetitive rubbish? Verstappen in the Red Bull has every chance of winning the WDC this weekend. For all we know Hamilton has an engine failure, or a bad pitstop, or a puncture, etc.

And ‘while it lasted’ actually equals the tightest and longest and fiercest battle we’ve seen for years! One that’s gone right to the last race. It’s been absolutely fantastic the whole way through.

[Fulcrum]

I dedicate this race to Nikki Lauda, Mansoor Ojjeh, and Max Mosley, may they rest in peace.

I nominate to add your predictive record to that list.

[oT v1]

Looking at the revised corners….it kind of looks like passing will be a bit harder, more so at the end of the dummy pit straight. Worn tyres might hit lap time a bit more.

[basti313]

https://i.imgur.com/IBSha01.jpg

And he changed his approach and got even better, whats your point

No, he just got a fast car.

[nimoraca]

Lewis loosing all time in the middle sector. That is interesting.

[zubster]

Looking tight so far! Two of them just separated by 0.033. Wonder how different the medium and hard tire pace will be.

[zubster]

Lewis loosing all time in the middle sector. That is interesting.

Either engine is tuned down or maybe saving the tires for the final sector? Seems to be overheating by the time they get there.

[dans79]

Lewis loosing all time in the middle sector. That is interesting.

Right now he has the fastest 1st sector, and bottas has the fastest 3rd sector while Max has the fastest 2nd sector. So times are kind of all over the place.

[oT v1]

Looking tight so far! Two of them just separated by 0.033. Wonder how different the medium and hard tire pace will be.

It’s looking all square, again, but just remember they are on different strats and objectives at the moment (fuelling/engine modes etc).

Plus it’s still 5 hours away from representative track conditions

[Tvetovnato]

Lewis loosing all time in the middle sector. That is interesting.

Right now he has the fastest 1st sector, and bottas has the fastest 3rd sector while Max has the fastest 2nd sector. So times are kind of all over the place.

Lewis had some bad passages through 6-7 most of the time, running wide in 6 and snaps into and out of 7. The race runs on softs were fairly similar, although Perez looked pretty good there.

[Tvetovnato]

And I guess it’s not the spicy engine in the car right now either.

[WaikeCU]

https://i.imgur.com/IBSha01.jpg

And he changed his approach and got even better, whats your point

No, he just got a fast car.

Not, this again...


Basic Friday stuff still. A lot can still change.

[siskue2005]

Sector 2 basically 2 long straights and merc .3 off there from Max. This shows they r not running their engine at its full power