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

[mkay]

If people want winter racing it's summer in the southern hemisphere. There's no lack of good tracks south of the equator, Kyalami, Eastern Creek, Phillips Island, Interlagos, Potrero de los Funes in San Luis Argentina, etc.

Anyway back on topic, McLaren will surprise people with their draggy speed, late braking from being so slow, and superior tire management. You think Abu Dhabi is an engine track because of those two cartoon straights, however only the first straight has any real distance to it, the two straights are actually shorter than the straight in Canada, and the following straight after the wall of champions. Unlike Canada, Abu Dhabi has a lot of long radius medium speed corners, and low speed chicanes, downforce and chassis performance matter far more than a fast engine for the vast majority of the lap. It's a long lap but it offers plenty of opportunity for harvesting so that shouldn't be a problem either.

Combined straight length in Montreal = c. 1.8km (c. 1.15km + c. 640m)
Combined straight length in Abu Dhabi = c. 2.1km (c. 1.2km + c. 950m)

Not quite sure where you got your numbers from... my source = Google Maps "Measure Distance" tool

[godlameroso]

Well Google is wrong, longest straight in Abu Dhabi is officially 1.14km.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yas_Marina_Circuit

Seating Capacity – 41,093
Area – 161.9 ha
Length – 5.5 km
Longest straight – 1140 metres

However I was still wrong as the longest straight in Canada is just over 1km and the second straight is shorter than Yas Marina.

[NathanOlder]

Wikipedia is not exactly..... the best. Not saying its wrong,

Maybe someone needs to go with a very long tape measure and find out for sure, This could decide the outcome of the race after all

[godlameroso]

I needed that.

[PlatinumZealot]

I have to admit that I'm not ready for the season to end

May I ask why?

[godlameroso]

What is the most difficult part of the lap? 15-19 or the final 2 corners?

[Sierra117]

I have to admit that I'm not ready for the season to end

May I ask why?

Personally I enjoyed the enhanced performance and tighter racing but also why I don't want it to end is because of the reg changes ... Halo and 3 PUs ☹

[dans79]

What is the most difficult part of the lap? 15-19 or the final 2 corners?

Personally I would go with turns 8 and 9. Heavy breaking into 8, sharp 90 degree turns, heavy acceleration out of 9, and a high curb on the inside of turn 9 that will really penalize you if you grab to much.

[Vasconia]

I have to admit that I'm not ready for the season to end

May I ask why?

Personally I enjoyed the enhanced performance and tighter racing but also why I don't want it to end is because of the reg changes ... Halo and 3 PUs ☹

I second this. Uglier cars and perhaps...slower? don´t like it.

[garyjpaterson]

May I ask why?

Personally I enjoyed the enhanced performance and tighter racing but also why I don't want it to end is because of the reg changes ... Halo and 3 PUs ☹

I second this. Uglier cars and perhaps...slower? don´t like it.

Uglier yes. Slower? Doubt it. I expect fairly substantial laptime gains to be honest, given the teams essentially designed the cars around unknown tyres. Structurally the cars will probably be more 'on the limit' next year as the teams have a much clearer idea of the expected loads, and won't have to play it safe as it were.

I'm sure most will make big aero gains as well given the relatively fresh regulations.

It will be interesting to see if teams really have to cut back on power to try and avoid penalties, or whether they will be confident enough to run normally throughout.

[Vasconia]

Personally I enjoyed the enhanced performance and tighter racing but also why I don't want it to end is because of the reg changes ... Halo and 3 PUs ☹

I second this. Uglier cars and perhaps...slower? don´t like it.

Uglier yes. Slower? Doubt it. I expect fairly substantial laptime gains to be honest, given the teams essentially designed the cars around unknown tyres. Structurally the cars will probably be more 'on the limit' next year as the teams have a much clearer idea of the expected loads, and won't have to play it safe as it were.

I'm sure most will make big aero gains as well given the relatively fresh regulations.

It will be interesting to see if teams really have to cut back on power to try and avoid penalties, or whether they will be confident enough to run normally throughout.

There will be gains with the aero development, for sure. But I doubt they will be able to push as much as they have done this season, unless they can build super reliable engines.

[godlameroso]

They'll push equally as hard as this year, don't worry, in fact I expect even more power. Wouldn't be surprised if someone decides to just run 4 power units next year, and takes a penaly.

[Shrieker]

What is the most difficult part of the lap? 15-19 or the final 2 corners?

I always struggled in the final 2 corners on rfactor.

[Restomaniac]

They'll push equally as hard as this year, don't worry, in fact I expect even more power. Wouldn't be surprised if someone decides to just run 4 power units next year, and takes a penaly.

If they do it will just heighten the need to rename the sport 'Formula Penalties'.

[godlameroso]

It's strategic even in the midfield, or for a team like Honda. A team may capitalize at the beginning of the season if they have a developmental advantage, get as many points as possible and if they know they're going to be out developed and starting at the back, running the engine harder may be an option, although it may be more expensive. Again maybe an option for Toro Rosso, or Williams.