Abu Dhabi GP 2009 - Yas Marina

[roost89]

One macca is about to retire

It's Lewis!!

Complaints of a vibration. So some kind of mechanical trouble. Telemetry saying there's a problem with the brakes

[Ciro Pabón]

The track is also the smoothest in terms of not having any bumps at all. Teams will be able to use an extremely low setting. I reckon that is a result of a dedicated construction of the track. It basically is reclaimed from the sea and the engineers could specify the earth mechanical side to their heart's content. On top you do not have to bother with a great deal of ice damage in the desert winter.

True. I was wondering how could they avoid the asphalt from seeping out. Now, 15 laps into the race, it's alreay seeping out! Check some of the low speed curves: it's shining. The glare that this closed surface gives in a couple of sites, with the sun setting, is also annoying.

Hamilton has blocked the front outer tyre a couple of times: that's what you expect with such a closed mixture and (I would say) excess of asphalt. I would like to follow closely the evolution of this surface. I do not like how it looks. Same goes for the tunnel: it's so smooth that is easier to make a slide if you have to brake on it.

A very flat, very smooth surface is essential to apply acceleration in straights. For example, any drag race track is smoother than the best F1 circuits. Some of you can remember how "full of asphalt" are drag tracks at NHRA races: they have the flattest asphalt surfaces in the world.

However, this kind of surface is not equally comfortable for road race circuits: with high mechanical grip, the tyre "holds" more to the surface when the downforce diminishes at the apex: you block the tyre easier than at circuits with a more "open" asphalt.

Oops. Hamilton is out. Kobayashi still showing how good he is, in third place. Incredible.

[roost89]

Nico being asked to push. Kimis strategy seems to be helping, he's in 6th now and 0.8s off the pace of Vettel

Ciro, I have an idea. Would it be possible to do a sort of community live commentary? In a seperate box. That's if there're enough members willing and able to do it.

[roost89]

Alquesuari ran out of fuel because he went into the wrong pit so didn't get any petrol.
Edit: He claims gearbox failure. he thought Red Bull was Toro Rosso when he pitted.

[ben_watkins]

The track may look nice, but the racing seems to be really dull, very large field spread, another processional Tilke design

[roost89]

Overtakes, on camera, from Sutil against Grosjean and Alonso against Kobayashi. Alonso pits afterwards

[Ciro Pabón]

Ciro, I have an idea. Would it be possible to do a sort of community live commentary? In a seperate box. That's if there're enough members willing and able to do it.

I'm not that sure about how useful it would be. Most of the races there are no "live comments" like we're doing now. We should ask Tomba: after all, he has time. It's 133 days until next race.

I was thinking: what happens if somebody blocks the pit tunnel exit? Is there an alternate pit exit? If not, what happens if people get stuck in the pits because there is an accident in the tunnel? Specially with this race at the end of the year: in the future, championships could be decided at this track. It seems funnhy to design a tunnel with such kinks and so narrow, after spending a fortune in the rest of the infrastructure: I just saw Kimi sliding at a "closed" part of the tunnel, where a crane cannot help you clean any obstacle.

[WhiteBlue]

They have a dedicated bobcat and a team of marshals with a wheel board. Whatch the two guys behind the screen. The plan is to red flag the race if the tunnel gets blocked.

[roost89]

Ciro, I have an idea. Would it be possible to do a sort of community live commentary? In a seperate box. That's if there're enough members willing and able to do it.

I'm not that sure about how useful it would be. Most of the races there are no "live comments" like we're doing now. We should ask Tomba: after all, he has time. It's 133 days until next race.

I was thinking: what happens if somebody blocks the pit tunnel exit? Is there an alternate pit exit? If not, what happens if people get stuck in the pits because there is an accident in the tunnel? Specially with this race at the end of the year: in the future, championships could be decided at this track. It seems funnhy to design a tunnel with such kinks and so narrow, after spending a fortune in the rest of the infrastructure: I just saw Kimi sliding at a "closed" part of the tunnel, where a crane cannot help you clean any obstacle.

That's a fair point. It was just an idea on my part anyway. 133 days, aww man, too long!

There's a marshall down there, in the tunnel. He could do something...probably. What WhiteBlue said . it is really slippery down there. Lets hope we don't find out what happens.

[roost89]

Kubica spins and loses a place to Rosberg. He spins after some contact against Buemi, going down the inside of Buemi into a corner

[Giblet]

Glock is doing very well. 6th place and already made a stop.

At least that's what my particular live timing feed says

[roost89]

Glock is doing very well. 6th place and already made a stop.

At least that's what my particular live timing feed says

Glock is so fast he doesn't even need to be at the track to get points!

A nice battle coming about between Webber and Button now. 1.1s behind Webber is Button.

Question: How many points does Kimi need to get to surpass Lewis and Mclaren in each of their tables?

Edit: Fisi passes Grosjean on the inside. Both cars seemingly out of control in the braking zone. Grosjean takes to the off-track asphalt and regains his place, soon to yield.

Button having a look on Webber, Mark is loosing control on his car. Wide and wiggling often. Button slides too! Mark is struggling to slow the car down and Button now has a run!
Mark keeps position into 10! Mark and Jenson now side by side into 11! Webber keeps position!
Vettel wins and Mark stays in 2nd! Button in 3rd. What an amazing end to an otherwise dull race

For all those who want to know. Vettel was driving "Dirty Kate"

[ackzsel]

Contrats for Vettel! Nice performance this season.

[roost89]

BBC will be in trouble now. Both Mark and Jenson swearing on TV on a Sunday!
Great to hear the drivers talking afterwards. Lots of joy from both sides

[megz]

Fantastic effort from the Red Bull guys taking a 1-2 but Hamilton would almost certainly have taken the race. Thumbs up to Kamui for getting points and racing a mature race to 7th. Pity McLaren and Ferrari didn't really duke it out a McLaren take the 3rd place in the constructors.

1 bonus point to Button for swearing to millions of people after the race, 9001 bonus points to Webber for keeping button behind for 3 laps with fading brakes, no stupid moves and many strikes from Button.

One last accolade goes to Heidfeld getting points for BMW in their last race, good man.

Wooden spoons for Alonso and Raikkonen.