2014 Abu Dhabi GP - Yas Marina

[Juzh]

Hamilton will probably dominate sector 3, if the past 4 years are any give-away.

This is a myth created by brundle and the rest of sky "experts".

I actually never heard them speaking about that . It's a personal impression I got from Hamilton, although last year was a bit less if I remember correctly?

Of the last 5 races he had best S3 in quali 2 times. As did Vettel. 1 for rosberg.

[Phil]

Didn't Hamilton damage his suspension last year in the last sector on one of the kerbs (which, I believe, he would have been in contention for pole if he hadn't) and possibly led to a strange race in which he lacked pace which he couldn't explain?

[Juzh]

We can't judge something that didn't happen tough, can we?

[iotar__]

Didn't Hamilton damage his suspension last year in the last sector on one of the kerbs (which, I believe, he would have been in contention for pole if he hadn't) and possibly led to a strange race in which he lacked pace which he couldn't explain?

No, it was in qualifying but not in the race. Later it was the good old cracks in the chassis excuse with a change for US GP, let's skip that out of mercy.
Last GP before F1's collapse to third or customer cars, or whatever it will be, designed failure for CVC to squeeze the last drop from their mid-long term investment by mistake called a sport.

I see that usual discussion about "which driver will benefit from layout more and why it's Hamilton" already began . Contrary to some opinions earlier I do (vaguely) remember him doing well once in the third _I¯| sector but it was McLaren and it doesn't transfer to 2014. Russia would be the closest track but not quite and tyres matter so my controversial opinion is it's going to be 50/50.

[zioture]

FORMULA 1 2014 - Circuit Preview 19 - Abu Dhabi LEWIS HAMILTON SIMULATOR

[lebesset]

if hamilton drops out rosberg will have to finish no lower than 5th

hang about ....doesn't that ring a bell somewhere ?

[ecapox]

oops....

[gray41]

if hamilton drops out rosberg will have to finish no lower than 5th

hang about ....doesn't that ring a bell somewhere ?

And if Rosberg drops out, Hamilton can too.

[astracrazy]

If rosberg drops out hamilton can pull over and stop

[SiLo]

If rosberg drops out hamilton can pull over and stop

I'm pretty sure he wouldn't, but I would laugh if he did. Just parked it and said, that's it guys, crack the champagne!

[SiLo]

Or, Hamilton to crash out at first corner, Rosberg to retire on the last lap and miss out by one point because he hadn't lapped enough of the field.

Possibly the only way Hamilton could win a championship in a more ridiculous way than his first one.

[PlatinumZealot]

Rosberg has been very strong in qualifying this year. I can't tell the last time when both Merc drivers started on the front row and Hamilton pulled away... Not Spa, Not Russia... you might have to go all the way back to.... Malaysia??

[CHT]

I dont see anything chance of a non Merc finishing 2nd if LH has got a reliable car, so the only way NR can win the championship is if LH DNF or some freak SC period that mess up LH pit stop.

[WaikeCU]

I dont see anything chance of a non Merc finishing 2nd if LH has got a reliable car, so the only way NR can win the championship is if LH DNF or some freak SC period that mess up LH pit stop.

If Vettel can do a comeback drive on this track, I'm sure Hamilton would be able to do that too. Even more with such a dominant car.

[prince]

I dont see anything chance of a non Merc finishing 2nd if LH has got a reliable car, so the only way NR can win the championship is if LH DNF or some freak SC period that mess up LH pit stop.

If Vettel can do a comeback drive on this track, I'm sure Hamilton would be able to do that too. Even more with such a dominant car.

We have seen Nico doing it in Sochi, which is a very similar track to Abu Dhabi, albeit with glorious tyre advantage in Sochi. This is a long race and with Soft and SuperSoft, there would be lot of pit stops and would create more optimized stint opportunities. In Singapore, Lewis did a phenomenal stint to get a Pit window created. Seb did that come back with RB9, with much lesser performance margin compared to W05.

This is any a high downforce circuit, but I expect both cars to be set up predominantly biased towards Race setup mode and if that happens, then the qualifying margins would be very narrow between Merc and other teams.

Merc engineers would have been working days and nights to ensure reliability and the race planning team is trying to put together all possible plans in case for adversity. As much as it is between the drivers, it would be same with engineers and strategists.