2013 Abu Dhabi GP - Yas Marina

[siskue2005]

Alonso made fantastic reaction when he came out of pits , very smart and fast decision!

That is also one way to look at it
The rules are made only for those idiots who stick to it... (and who don't sit in a red car)

[piast9]

If the stewards didn't penalize Sutil (as far as I remember) for brave "overtaking" at the chicane then why they should penalize Alonso? At least the're consistent with their actions. Too bad that they're not consistent with what they've said before the race about keeping between the white lines.

[atanatizante]

Am I the only one thinking that Mercedes had a bit of a compromised wing set up for the race? Or it's simply down to bad luck that Hamiltons race got compromised being stuck behind GUT for the entire 2nd stint, but even so it seemed he just never had the straightline speed to pass other cars in the DRS zones easily. Of course it hurts given with this setup, he had the pace for a front row start, but given he lost a few places on the straights in the past two races, one has to wonder if going for qualifying pace over race is the right way. Of course, Rosberg's race worked out flawless, though he didnt have the bad luck to fall behind the first wave of cars starting on the prime tyre.

Sadly, it all kind of went wrong after the start when Webber compromised his first corner... Sure, one can argue he could've/should've went right, but starting on the left side of the grid, that was always going to be tricky or get you volnurable from those coming from behind trying to get the inside of the corner.

I'll be very interested to see if Alonso will get that penalty. I honestly dont get why these things couldnt be decided during the race. Alonso could have always used his brakes to avoid having to leave the track...

They followed the trend promoted last year by RB with a high downforce setup and low top speed in order to slow down tyres to degrade, so it's not the case of prioritizing qualy instead of race ...
Same philosophy has Lotus which has the lowest top speed hence the best tyre management.
Had they setup the car with higher top speed and lower DF their tyre would slide more hence bigger degradation and then more stops.
And another important factor in tyre management is how they geared the car in the slow speed corners ...

Now Rosberg admitted on RTL interview that this week they setup the car with a higher top speed and said it worked trough the entire weekend and was obvious in the race when he passed Sutil quite easily ...
And now, after Rosberg's success, Brawn has stated that they must revise Hamy's setup with a more emphasis towards a race and a low DF setup ...

[henra]

If the stewards didn't penalize Sutil (as far as I remember) for brave "overtaking" at the chicane then why they should penalize Alonso?

If we are thinking about the same 'event' for me the difference is that Sutil was in front of Perez before the 'excursion' and just stayed in front afterwards. He did not gain a position vs. Perez. The other guy involved (Ricciardo?) initiated the whole incident but eliminated himself while doing so by completely missing the corner. Sutil and Perez profited from that, IIRC but stayed in the same sequence.
Alonso started behind Vergne and ended in front of him.
That's where I see the difference.

[Jonnycraig]

Horner says Webber pressed KERS too early off the line which allowed Vettel past. Webber says Vettel was 'on another planet' and would've beaten him regardless.

[SectorOne]

It only proves that Alonso made fantastic decision very fast, this was something like his starts, class above others!

What it really proves is that track limits mean nothing. And the FIA proved once again what a farce it is.

Seems they are completely unaware of the phenomenon shown when you press the left pedal.

Asked if there was any specific area it felt like that car was weak for him, Hamilton replied: "It was like I had another 50 kilos in the car or something, I just was slow."

This is what it has looked all season for both. The car just seems extremely sluggish.
Poor traction out of corners, looks overweight in transitions and just like it´s carrying dead weight.

Obviously both Rosberg and Hamilton has won races in the same car but it does look like a sumo-wrestler rather then a ballet-dancer.

[radosav]

It only proves that Alonso made fantastic decision very fast, this was something like his starts, class above others!

What it really proves is that track limits mean nothing. And the FIA proved once again what a farce it is.

Seems they are completely unaware of the phenomenon shown when you press the left pedal.

Asked if there was any specific area it felt like that car was weak for him, Hamilton replied: "It was like I had another 50 kilos in the car or something, I just was slow."

This is what it has looked all season for both. The car just seems extremely sluggish.
Poor traction out of corners, looks overweight in transitions and just like it´s carrying dead weight.

Obviously both Rosberg and Hamilton has won races in the same car but it does look like a sumo-wrestler rather then a ballet-dancer.

Are you serious ??? Is it not enough that top drivers need to have four eyes when the young drivers like Vergne, Grosjean,Perez , Maldonaddo etc try to overtake them, now they have to give them credit and move aside when young guns get trigger happy!

[Mr Alcatraz]

Even Vergne himself believes Fred did the right thing. :-"

[stefan_]

What the... Did they give him something to drink in the stewards' room?

[langwadt]

Horner says Webber pressed KERS too early off the line which allowed Vettel past. Webber says Vettel was 'on another planet' and would've beaten him regardless.

you could also see from the Rosberg on board that his reaction time was slow,
and why the early pit stop - put on the slower tire and get out in traffic what was the idea behind that?

[SectorOne]

Are you serious ??? Is it not enough that top drivers need to have four eyes when the young drivers like Vergne, Grosjean,Perez , Maldonaddo etc try to overtake them, now they have to give them credit and move aside when young guns get trigger happy!

I take it you do not have a driving license. Or i´m guessing you are the sort of guy coming full speed on the ramp on to the freeway and just expect people to jump out of your way.

Alonso is the one that´s entering the racetrack, he´s the one that should be cautious.

I get that Alonso was determined to stay ahead of Massa even though Ferrari messed up his pit stop and put him on inferior tires but if i was a steward i´d slap a drive-through penalty right across his forehead for not just leaving the track but OVERTAKING outside the track limits.

A, could have used the brakes, he is after all entering the race track, not Vergne.

B, if he realized his mistake, let him past, DRS him on the straight after which was his "plan A".

He would not have to worry about Massa, they did everything they could to hold him back and could have just pulled on his leash a bit if he got too close to Alonso.

[spiritone]

Man i would hate to be a promoter for these last races. What do you have to sell? For F1 lovers its ok but for the regular fans it's become a race with a predetermined winner. Hard sell in the u.s. After last years terrific race at cota this one is going to be a bore. Cancelled my plans.

[tim|away]

Horner says Webber pressed KERS too early off the line which allowed Vettel past. Webber says Vettel was 'on another planet' and would've beaten him regardless.

you could also see from the Rosberg on board that his reaction time was slow,
and why the early pit stop - put on the slower tire and get out in traffic what was the idea behind that?

Webber's tyres were probably gone from following ROS closely at the beginning and not managing to make them last very long. After his first pit stop, Webber was released behind GUT who didn't hold him up at all. GUT was on old tyres and Webber just flew past him with additional help of DRS. After that, Mark was driving in clear air for several laps until he caught up with SUT.

[oT v1]

This is the driver who forced Vettel onto the grass at 180mph at Monza and then got the rules changed when Rosberg edged him onto the asphalt runoff at Bahrain.

exactly! =D>

long let Vettel reign if its to stop HIM!

[Jonnycraig]

What the... Did they give him something to drink in the stewards' room?

He's not exactly in a position to make enemies right now. Who knows where Ferrari may look for their #2 in 2015..

Horner says Webber pressed KERS too early off the line which allowed Vettel past. Webber says Vettel was 'on another planet' and would've beaten him regardless.

you could also see from the Rosberg on board that his reaction time was slow,
and why the early pit stop - put on the slower tire and get out in traffic what was the idea behind that?

The first stage was fine for Webber, he was swamped in the second stage due to no KERS. They had to pit Webber when they did as he is so sensitive on the softer tyres.