2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina, 24-26 November

[Restomaniac]

Track limits are gonna come up again when we go into quali. There are already drivers who fully cross the white lines in the final 2 corners. This has been an issue on this circuit for many years now, and it's shameful they haven't done something to fix this in all this time.

who cares.. everyone does it.

Indeed and then when they randomly penalise 1 driver again?

This is the point. It was then (In Austin) and it is now.
We either have track limits or we don't. Some of us said it before the race in Austin and it bit them on the bum big time.

[Schuttelberg]

It would be a miracle if Mercedes didn't win the GP.

[Sierra117]

That intro for the Qualifying that played just now had a great song playing. Send me a message if anybody knows what that was lol.

McLaren looked great in FP3. Hope he does well in Quali now.

[foxmulder_ms]

This season, again, proved Hulkenberg should be in one of the big three. He is really an A-list driver.

[GPR-A duplicate2]

So, as many expected, Ferrari didn't live up to the billing that the 3rd sector of Yas Marina will favor them. The best Ferrari was almost 3 tenths behind the best Mercedes. That is huge for just one sector!

[f1316]

I think the gap to both Ferrari and Red Bull in that sector speaks to how neither could optimise setup to high downforce, given the time they’d otherwise give up down the straights.

That takes nothing away from Mercedes who were untouchable round this circuit, but I don’t think you’d see the same margin if they were all just racing sector 3.

[Phil]

Well done Bottas! Also very impressed by Hulkenberg (not just today)!

[GPR-A duplicate2]

I think the gap to both Ferrari and Red Bull in that sector speaks to how neither could optimise setup to high downforce, given the time they’d otherwise give up down the straights.

That takes nothing away from Mercedes who were untouchable round this circuit, but I don’t think you’d see the same margin if they were all just racing sector 3.

Out of 11 corners in S3, only two goes below 100 (so far the Achilles heals of Mercedes) and of the remaining, some are taken at around 130 and remaining at over 200. How is it surprising that Mercedes did well? How different is this circuit to Sepang? If not for getting their setup wrong, the story of Malaysia wouldn't have been any different. Honestly, this was the kind of performance that was expected at Malaysia from Mercedes, isn't it? Which they got it wrong. So, I don't think the setups are vastly different due to the nature of circuits being similar.

[ferkan]

Its not surprising it did well, its the fact that Ferrari and RB did relatively good in S1 and S2 where power is more important and lost in S3. They had to probably given that there is no way for them to defend against Merc on straights if they went with more DF.

[GPR-A duplicate2]

Its not surprising it did well, its the fact that Ferrari and RB did relatively good in S1 and S2 where power is more important...

Since when did the Ferrari PU became inferior to Mercedes, to be classified with a Renault PU? And Bottas is using a PU that was most probably introduced at Spa, which has potentially done races at Spa, Monza, Malaysia, Suzuka, USA and Mexico (due to power demand). Now compare that to both RBs whose power units are relatively young.

[Sierra117]

What a monster pole time by Bottas! Sisuuuuuuuuu

[ChrisDanger]

Also very impressed by Hulkenberg (not just today)!

With the Toro Rossos languishing near the back of the grid, he just needs 8th to secure 6th place for Renault.

[NathanOlder]

I think Hamilton will make the engine count tomorrow . Both engines in the 44 and 77 today were run at full beans for Q3. Tomorrow the 44 should be able to run harder for longer ? Or will they run the 77 hard and hope it doesnt expire

[PlatinumZealot]

Meh. Bottas wont be a threat. Poor race pace. He will get overtaken before lap 20.

[dans79]

Tomorrow the 44 should be able to run harder for longer ? Or will they run the 77 hard and hope it doesnt expire

Merc really likes 1-2s, so I can't see them doing anything that would jeopardize that.