2016 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi - Yas Marina, 25-27 November

[Vasconia]

For Mercedes was a pretty tense race because Hamilton´s strategy could have ruined Rosberg´s chances to win but also Hamilton´s victory in this race.

Hamilton had got out and was pushing his car around by hand and Vettel still only barely managed to catch them (the rest couldn't even stay within touching distance of the Mercs). Given how much life he would have had left in his tyres, fuel reserves for high-performance engine modes and the normal advantage the Merc has over the Ferrari I don't see how Vettel would have passed him.

There wasn't even a realistic chance that Vettel would pass Rosberg.

I know that both Mercedes have perhaps a full second in their hands but the risk of having a car so near is that a bad executed overtake or a tough battle could have caused an incidend and a DNF for one or two cars. Is the teams job to minimize the risk and because of this they wanted Hamilton to pull away.

[Wynters]

For Mercedes was a pretty tense race because Hamilton´s strategy could have ruined Rosberg´s chances to win but also Hamilton´s victory in this race.

I know that both Mercedes have perhaps a full second in their hands but the risk of having a car so near is that a bad executed overtake or a tough battle could have caused an incidend and a DNF for one or two cars. Is the teams job to minimize the risk and because of this they wanted Hamilton to pull away.

Agreed.

[jknights]

For Mercedes was a pretty tense race because Hamilton´s strategy could have ruined Rosberg´s chances to win but also Hamilton´s victory in this race.

Hamilton had got out and was pushing his car around by hand and Vettel still only barely managed to catch them (the rest couldn't even stay within touching distance of the Mercs). Given how much life he would have had left in his tyres, fuel reserves for high-performance engine modes and the normal advantage the Merc has over the Ferrari I don't see how Vettel would have passed him.

There wasn't even a realistic chance that Vettel would pass Rosberg.

I think Mercedes main concern was for internal team harmony. If, for instance, Hamilton backed Rosberg into Verstappen and there was a race-ending collision as a result I can't see how the Rosberg/Hamilton relationship survives. That, in turn, splits the Mercedes team as a whole as people will take sides.

Exactly.
Mercedes are German, and so is Rosberg. They think it is good for company prestige to have WDC as a German. This is probably correct.
I actually think that Hamilton has been unlucky this year but Rosberg has driven consistently if not spectularly and so deserves his WDC.

Next year is a new specification for all the cars. This will be interesting in theory but we shall see.

[Vasconia]

Exactly.
Mercedes are German, and so is Rosberg. They think it is good for company prestige to have WDC as a German. This is probably correct.
I actually think that Hamilton has been unlucky this year but Rosberg has driven consistently if not spectularly and so deserves his WDC.

Next year is a new specification for all the cars. This will be interesting in theory but we shall see.

Better drivers usually adapt themselves easier and Nico is a very focused and methodical driver so he should adapt very well to the new tyres. Anyway, with new tyres everything could change so yes, it will be very interesting.

Sadly, march is too far!

[Just_a_fan]

I've been wondering if Hamilton was trying to force Rosberg to attempt an overtake of him. Perhaps he was hoping for a severely flat spotted tyre or even some damage on Rosberg's car. After all, Hamilton had nothing to lose if it came off against him in the end. He must have known that the cars behind would be unlikely to try an overtake if there was a risk of contact.

Anyway, onwards to the bright future of 2017 (so says the brochure )

[ThumbsUp]

I was watching Ted's Notebook and I found it quite funny how Jenson takes over the show!

[Fifty]

There is a HUGE point people are forgetting here with the whole Merc toto niki for Rosberg conspiracy....

Mercedes is a business, Merc F1 is a business owned by a bunch of people.

These businesses concerns are:

1)make money
2)win races with the best scores possible

So in order to do that, Merc/toto/niki/shareholders/petronas etc etc desire is for a one two finish. Any risk to that is unacceptable.

The fact that Hamilton was unnecessarily risking a one two finish was not what his BOSSES want.

On a second and side note, we all sit here and Monday morning quarterback about how so and so driver is a a mediocre driver in the best car. Toto is no dummy, niki is no dummy, the engineers are no dummies. Don't you think they also know that Lewis and nico's skill sets are significantly over valued due to the machinery they are using. It's been clearly shown over and over that a fresh set of tires are more important than the motor, chassis or the "greater skill set" of the driver.
It could have been Seb, it could have been Max, but all they didn't need was Britney or Louise to stress out a little, flat spot or over heat the tire/brake and then it would have been a Ferrari Red Bull Merc 1,2,3...

Merc has their CWC sets. I have a feeling the management is seriously working on a driver exit strategy now, as well as a shift to Formula E.

[Phillyred]

I was watching Ted's Notebook and I found it quite funny how Jenson takes over the show!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmHLB2GHWoc

Rumor has it Jenson had a few "sodas" prior to this!

[PlatinumZealot]

True, not the most honorable strategy but a legal one, and lets be sincere, every single driver would have done the same.

Any driver who doesn't do it would make a perfect #2 driver!

Perhaps but you could choose to simply win the race and wait for your rival´s mistake. More honorable, less intelligent. Anyway this stragy mad the race much more interesting but I can imagine how pissed of feld Nico during some laps. Because I know that if he would have tried to overtake Lewis, it would have been a collision.

This isn't the WRC though, Vasconia, there are other cars on the track that are to be engaged in combat. This is what racing is about.

[ThumbsUp]

I was watching Ted's Notebook and I found it quite funny how Jenson takes over the show!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmHLB2GHWoc

Rumor has it Jenson had a few "sodas" prior to this!

You can see from the beginning that he had a few "sodas". I like the part when Jenson says: "Ted's not comming because he's booooring..."

[TAG]

I want to thank Lewis Hamilton for showing us a master class of what it means to control a race, ruthlessly, efficiently and with utter confidence in his ability.

Professor Prost could not have taught a better class. Kudos, and a nice ending to a difficult season filled with equal parts challenges and successes. The record books show names like Senna, Prost, Schumacher and Fangio around his name, drives the h8trz nuts.

[TAG]

Alonso finished the season in the points again... Glad to see McHonda making it, sad for Button... Let's hope they are better next year... There were some aggressive moves on track, liked the race.

He's been outstanding this year. It's amazing to think he even missed a race and drove with broken ribs in another. McLaren and Honda just please give him a car to challenge!

Looking forward to McHonda next year too with SVD! Alonso's record against hot young rookies is pretty abysmal.

[Manoah2u]

But.........imagine SVD being dumped in favor of 'the Lew' ok, i'll show myself out.

[RedNEO]

Alonso finished the season in the points again... Glad to see McHonda making it, sad for Button... Let's hope they are better next year... There were some aggressive moves on track, liked the race.

He's been outstanding this year. It's amazing to think he even missed a race and drove with broken ribs in another. McLaren and Honda just please give him a car to challenge!

Looking forward to McHonda next year too with SVD! Alonso's record against hot young rookies is pretty abysmal.

Really? He's beaten Grosjean, Piquet and he drew with your boy hammy (who was had extensive testing before the season) so not really actually haha

[A-Bap]

For Mercedes was a pretty tense race because Hamilton´s strategy could have ruined Rosberg´s chances to win but also Hamilton´s victory in this race.

Hamilton had got out and was pushing his car around by hand and Vettel still only barely managed to catch them (the rest couldn't even stay within touching distance of the Mercs). Given how much life he would have had left in his tyres, fuel reserves for high-performance engine modes and the normal advantage the Merc has over the Ferrari I don't see how Vettel would have passed him.

There wasn't even a realistic chance that Vettel would pass Rosberg.

I think Mercedes main concern was for internal team harmony. If, for instance, Hamilton backed Rosberg into Verstappen and there was a race-ending collision as a result I can't see how the Rosberg/Hamilton relationship survives. That, in turn, splits the Mercedes team as a whole as people will take sides.

Exactly.
Mercedes are German, and so is Rosberg. They think it is good for company prestige to have WDC as a German. This is probably correct.
I actually think that Hamilton has been unlucky this year but Rosberg has driven consistently if not spectularly and so deserves his WDC.

Next year is a new specification for all the cars. This will be interesting in theory but we shall see.

What do we think about the possibility that Mercedes needed the 1-2 to qualify for an ongoing increase in their Heritage Bonus? Or perhaps something else. I think its certainly a plausible explanation as to why the team orders were so strong.