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

[Mattyw]

So who thinks LH44 can make the overcut work? Stretch the life of the mediums, pit late, than try to catch Max in the end with fresher hards?

Gotta be the only viable option. Same top speeds so will need a big tyre differential.

Unless Ver tyres go early so he goes two stop and ham tries to run a 1 stop and defend

[Shrieker]

Ham surely didnt take second on purpose. I think merc is surprised by the red bull top speed here. Max can maybe go for a one stop and than try to stay ahead of Ham in the second stint on older rubber.

Softs will be dead in 12-13 laps max. Probably more like in 10 laps, if Hamilton is right behind and hustlin' him. He has to then make the hards last for 45 laps, even pitting on lap 13 . Without scs/vscs, that's not gonna work. We are likely to at least get a vsc here tho.

[101FlyingDutchman]

Depends how the first lap unfolds as to how the tyre strat runs. Way too many variables. It may well be that RB think going for the 2 stop straight from the get go is the fastest for them. If they then have PER behind HAM to not allow HAM to manage his own pace/tyres then that might be ideal. But who truly knows?! They’ll have their info from the sims and the gurus back at base. Now it’s just a question whether their plan can be translated onto the track.

I am glad however it’s going to be tight. No one with 0.5s advantage (currently) and a damn squib of a final decider. Hopefully it’ll stay a nail biter. May the best man win cleanly and fairly

[Starkblood80]

Now is the time for Checo to do a "Bottas in Hungary"

Yay, let’s have the most exciting race in recent F1 history finish in a complete anticlimactic fashion just because some people are desperate to see their favourite driver win by any means possible

[Tom145145]

It’s not likely Hamilton gave up pole, but I don’t think he/the team were upset with it. If Redbull need to do a 2 stop then it’s going to be a tough race for them unless there is a safety car at a good time for them. This track is most often a 1 stop but who knows this year. I think as soon as Max was on the softs 2nd on the grid was ok for Lewis as he would have likely lost out at the start.

[siskue2005]

Redbull are the car to be on this season.
His lap in Jeddha and here speaks volumes of how much they have the car underneath him.
Only in Brazil and Qatar did Merc looked clearly faster.. apart from that redbull has been the fastest.

This is motor sport u need the motor (car) to win!

Imola, Portugal, Spain, Silverstone, Turkey, Monza Mercedes was slower than even Haas?

Imola, Portugal, Spain, Silverstone Redbull were equally faster! There was nothing in them really.

[Shrieker]

I don't quite see how this race is 'already over'.

Max was more than .3 ahead of Lewis going into the last corner in Saudia in q3. Even if he had been a tad reserved, he could've still likely snatched pole by .3 of a second; there or thereabouts. But look how the race unfolded. Especially when RB went for the medium pinning their hopes on track position, and Merc played the long game by putting on hards. We have a similar dynamic tomorrow, albeit in the opening stint.

Personally I think it's gonna be fantastic, ceteris paribus.

[El Scorchio]

I don't quite see how this race is 'already over'.

Max was more than .3 ahead of Lewis going into the last corner in Saudia in q3. Even if he had been a tad reserved, he could've still likely snatched pole by .3 of a second; there or thereabouts. But look how the race unfolded. Especially when RB went for the medium pinning their hopes on track position, and Merc played the long game by putting on hards. We have a similar dynamic tomorrow, albeit in the opening stint.

Personally I think it's gonna be fantastic, ceteris paribus.

Agree. All the permutations in play are fascinating. I think lots of twists and turns during the race with the tyre situation.

[wogx]

Is this real?

[siskue2005]

I don't quite see how this race is 'already over'.

Max was more than .3 ahead of Lewis going into the last corner in Saudia in q3. Even if he had been a tad reserved, he could've still likely snatched pole by .3 of a second; there or thereabouts. But look how the race unfolded. Especially when RB went for the medium pinning their hopes on track position, and Merc played the long game by putting on hards. We have a similar dynamic tomorrow, albeit in the opening stint.

Personally I think it's gonna be fantastic, ceteris paribus.

Agree. All the permutations in play are fascinating. I think lots of twists and turns during the race with the tyre situation.

Also te change in tyre pressure for today has affected Merc tyre warm up... The increased tyre pressure will degrade the tyres more in race...i don't see Max making a 1 stop, its surely a 2 stop for them...

[siskue2005]

Just a reminder that Max was quicker in his 2nd attempt before he aborted it, without a tow:

[sushantasapkota1]

How did f2 go. Were there overtakes?

[Dee]

This is so very very interesting

Abu Dhabi

* Ham engine degrading, as close now to Mclaren, Bottas using old engine and P6
* Honda have tested engines with TR and now pull out all the stops for final race

Differences from SA

* RB have faster race pace from FP on both tyres here with Max using the Bahrain engine on Friday, Merc had the upper hand in FP longruns in Jeddah, by over 0.580 a lap
* RB seem to operate better at the cooler temps
* RB seem to be doing better with the new tyre pressures

[djones]

It was win/win for Hamilton if he came 1st or 2nd.

The key is Max starting on softs means he 100% has to stop twice or have a horrific pace near the end on really worn tyres. It's Hamiltons race to lose from here.

[ringo]

It’s not likely Hamilton gave up pole, but I don’t think he/the team were upset with it. If Redbull need to do a 2 stop then it’s going to be a tough race for them unless there is a safety car at a good time for them. This track is most often a 1 stop but who knows this year. I think as soon as Max was on the softs 2nd on the grid was ok for Lewis as he would have likely lost out at the start.

Agreed. They wanted pole, but seem to judge that it was very likely redbull would take it, and they made preparations for that scenario.
I think it is very likely Max can just have superior pace and just disappear or very difficult for Lewis to follow. And if he has enough pace the strategy wont matter, and we have seen this a few times this year.

What I like about the Merc strategy is that the 1 stop for hard tyre is usually their go to strategy and it gives them the best pace.

What could work for Max though is an early stop for hards that sets him up to be chased by Lewis, maybe those hards will be just 10 laps older, and he can possibly hold off Hamilton to win with the skinny wing he has.

But other than that, that red tyre may be the chink in the armour. I can see Hamilton being just as fast as max after about 5 laps. Also Lewis has a knack of taking P-1 from P-2 in Abudhabi if I remember correctly.

I hope there are no crashes and both cars go into lap two one behind the other.