13/11/2011
NEWS STORY
Despite the never ending praise from drivers, team bosses, sponsors and pretty much everyone else that has a vested interest, for us, and many fans, Abu Dhabi remains one of the major blots on the F1 landscape.
No offence to the country or its people is intended, however, the fact is that street circuits just aren't suited to Formula One racing. Right hander - short straight - left hander - straight - right hander just isn't conducive to good racing.
The backdrop, with its pristine white sculptured buildings and setting sun is magnificent, however, the circuit remains as characterless and soulless as one has come to expect from such ventures. Perhaps it is the constant hyperbole from the aforementioned vested interest brigade that makes it some much worse here.
Last year, and no disrespect to Sebastian Vettel is intended, the world championship fight became a mockery courtesy of the layout of this dreadful track - not forgetting Ferrari's poor strategy. Though the championship has long been decided, tracks such as this should never be used for season finales for no matter the outcome of the race the on track 'action' is always something of an anti-climax.
This year, courtesy of two DRS zones - one of which has already been extended - the situation, in terms of overtaking, is equally bleak, with Mark Webber leaving the BBC red-faced yesterday when he predicted that today wouldn't be much of a race.
"I don't know how exciting the race is going to be to be honest," he told Lee McKenzie, who was keen to assure viewers that there was plenty to tune in for. "Hmm, I don't know," insisted the Australian, adding that the best hope for a good race was for McLaren to "stir things up on the first lap".
Sadly, barring a major shock/incident on the opening lap, it looks to be much of the same, as Vettel starts from pole ahead of the McLaren duo. If ever a circuit produced racing that sees the finishing order decided at the first corner, this is it, consequently, at shortly after 17:00 today (local time) a lot of F1 fans could find themselves switching channels, heading out to the garden, down the pub or even find time to ask their partner how their week has been. For the rest of us it could be a long afternoon… it's not as if we can even expect a sudden downpour.
However, just because we're not expecting a thriller doesn't mean that there isn't a lot to fight for today. Ignoring the fight for the runner up spots in the drivers' and constructors' championship, let's not forget that a number of drivers have yet to secure seats for next season while the all important constructor standings - which decide the allocation of prize money and perks - sees Renault, Force India, Sauber and Toro Rosso involved in a titanic, intriguing battle for fifth.
Tyre this weekend are medium (prime) and soft (option), the Italian manufacturer, which claims that tyre degradation is not an issue here, is expecting most drivers to opt for two stops spending as much time as possible on the softs.
That said, by the time drivers get around to using the harder compound it will be much cooler - the sun is already very low in the sky - which will obviously effect handling.
As we said earlier, there are two DRS zones, the first on the straight between Turns 7 and 8, the second on the straight that follows (between Turns 10 and 11).
Having not run in qualifying, Rubens Barrichello starts from the back row alongside teammate Pastor Maldonado who incurred a ten-place grid penalty after exceeding his engine allocation. A sad day for Williams and indeed Barrichello who looks to be contesting his penultimate Grand Prix.
As the field heads off on the warm-up lap, the air temperature is 26 degrees C, while the track temperature is 31 degrees.
Di Resta is on the harder compound, as are the Williams duo, Kobayashi and Senna.
After a long, long wait, especially for those at the front, they're away.
Vettel leads into the first corner, however, he slides off at Turn 2 with a rear-right puncture. At the first corner, Rosberg runs wide as he fights with his teammate.
Out front Hamilton leads Alonso, who nails Button in the first corner with a hard, brave move, Webber remains fourth while the Mercedes duo continue to battle for sixth.
Replay shows Vettel had the puncture going into Turn 2 having probably damaged it clouting the kerb at the first turn. Back in the pits it is all over for the world champion, his first retirement of the year, the right-rear of the car badly damaged by his flailing tyre.
At the end of lap 2, Perez pits for a new nose though it's not yet clear how it was damaged. Senna has also pitted.
Back on track, Hamilton leads Alonso by 2.7s with Button a further 1.5s down the road. The 2009 world champion is under pressure from Webber and Massa.
Webber makes short work of Button in the first DRS zone however, the Englishman re-takes the position in the second.
As Alonso posts a new fastest lap (46.782), Vettel studies the damage to the rear of his car.
ON lap 5, Hamilton extends his lead to 2.7s with a new fastest lap (46.549). Behind the leading seven, it's: Sutil, di Resta, Buemi, Petrov, Alguersuari, Kovalainen - yes Kovalainen!!! - Barrichello, Kobayashi and Maldonado. Impressive stuff from the Finn and the Williams duo.
Back in the Red Bull garage, Bernie Ecclestone comforts Vettel, the F1 supremo giving the youngster a reassuring hug.
On lap 7, Button posts a new fastest lap (46.391) as he remains 3.3s shy of Alonso and 1.4s clear of Webber. In sixth, Rosberg now has a 2.6s advantage over his Mercedes teammate.
Mindful of the Constructors' Championship, and the fact he doesn't yet have a seat for 2012, Buemi is pushing hard, the Swiss all over the back of di Resta. The Toro Rosso driver nails the Force India in the first DRS zone but, as we've seen before, the positions are reversed in the second zone. Worth remembering that the Scot is on the harder compound.
Schumacher is under increasing pressure from Sutil, as Kobayashi, who pitted a few laps back, passes both HRTs in one fell sweep, the three of them running abreast at one point.
"I'm starting to lose traction," complains di Resta, the team aware of his situation. Elsewhere, teammate Sutil goes quickest in S2.
Lap 12 sees a new fastest lap for Alonso, the Spaniard crossing the line at 45.944. He is now 6s clear of Button but remains 2.6s behind the race leader.
Button reports an unspecified problem to his team as Webber closes to 0.9s. Elsewhere, Buemi again passes di Resta under DRS however, the Scot immediately re-takes the position. This time, however, the force India makes a mistake in the corner that follows allowing the Swiss back through.
As Webber closes to within striking distance of Button it is revealed that the Englishman has a KERS failure. Webber passes the McLaren but somehow the 2009 champ is able to re-take the place. Fantastic stuff from the McLaren driver.
At the end of lap 15, Massa is the first of the front runners to pit, the Ferrari driver taking on another set of softs. Alguersuari also pits.
Next time around Hamilton, Alonso and Button all pit, rejoining in second, third and fifth. Sutil, who has passed Schumacher, also stops, as does the seven-time champ.
At the end of lap 17 race leader Webber pits, as does Rosberg. It's a bad stop for the Australian who, ironically, experiences a problem with his right-rear, 9.4s later he's heading down the pitlane rejoining in fifth.
Jenson is advised of Webber's pit stop and his problem, "he's out of the picture," he's told.
Petrov and Barrichello both pit at the end of lap 18, while di Resta, who is on the harder compound, has yet to stop and remains eighth. The Scot allows his teammate, who has stopped, by to take seventh.
"If we can make this work it will be good," di Resta is told, the Scot clearly on a one-stop strategy.
After 20 laps, it's: Hamilton, Alonso, Button, Massa, Webber, Rosberg, Sutil, di Resta, Schumacher, Maldonado, Kobayashi, Senna, Petrov, Perez, Kovalainen, Buemi, Barrichello, Glock, Alguersuari, Liuzzi, Trulli and Ricciardo.
Senna, who along with di Resta, Maldonado, Glock and Liuzzi, has yet to pit, finally stops at the end of lap 21.
Buemi is the third retirement of the day, the Swiss coasting back to his garage and subsequently climbing out of his car. A disappointing result for the Swiss and his team. Along with Vettel, d'Ambrosio is the only other retirement.
Losing time in traffic, Hamilton's lead over Alonso drops to 3.2s. Button, sans KERS, is now 14.1s behind the Spaniard and under increasing pressure from Massa who benefited from Webber's disastrous pit stop.
Liuzzi pits at the end of lap 25, leaving di Resta, Maldonado and Glock as the only drivers yet to stop. A lap later, the Venezuelan finally stops, however he almost clouts the wall as he heads back to the track.
Di Resta finally pits at the end of lap 27, more or less half distance. As Barrichello also pits, the Scot rejoins the race in twelfth.
Hamilton extends his lead to 4.1s courtesy of a new fastest lap (44.759), as his teammate comes under increasing pressure from Massa and Webber. That said, the Brazilian has his mirrors full of Red Bull.
Maldonado, who is currently fourteenth on his one-stop strategy, is handed a drive-through for ignoring blue flags. Teammate Barrichello is currently eleventh.
Webber passes Massa in the first DRS and though the Brazilian looks to have blown it in the second zone some very, very late braking into Turn 11 sees him re-take the position. Good clean driving from the pair of them.
Maldonado serves his penalty, rejoining in seventeenth.
Button posts a PB on lap 31, suggesting that he once again has use of his KERS. The Englishman immediately extends the gap to Massa to 5.9s.
Maldonado, who has already been penalised, now gets in the way of both Alonso and then Webber, a poor showing from the Williams driver. It will be interesting to see if the Stewards, who include Derek Warwick, hand the Venezuelan another penalty.
Kobayashi, currently ninth, makes his second stop at the end of lap 34.
After 34 laps, with 21 remaining, it's: Hamilton, Alonso, Button, Massa, Webber, Rosberg, Sutil, Schumacher, di Resta and Petrov.
The stewards announce that they are investigating Alguersuari and Maldonado.
Webber makes his second stop the Australian taking on another set of softs, which means he will have to pit for a third time. He rejoins in sixth.
Next time around Button also pits, the McLaren driver taking on a set of mediums. Elsewhere, Senna is under investigation for ignoring blue flags. Sutil also pits.
Senna is handed a drive-through, the Brazilian currently running fifteenth. Another pointless race for Renault?
Cutting the kerb at Turn 20, Schumacher loses a piece of his front wing.
With an eye on using tyre strategy to his advantage, Alonso closes to within 4.1s of the race leader.
Webber posts a new fastest lap (43.671) on lap 38, though his tyre strategy seems odd.
Perez passes Petrov to take tenth and what could be the last of the points. As the Russian pits, it looks as though this could be a good result for the Sauber duo.
Webber closes to within 0.6s of Button, as Hamilton makes his second stop of the afternoon. As Alonso posts a PB (44.179) the Englishman rejoins in second. Massa and Kovalainen both pit.
All eyes on Alonso who, if he can string together a strong couple of laps, could jump Hamilton at his pit stop. Webber is all over Button, however, despite his soft tyres, the Australian is unable to make a move stick.
Hamilton clearly frustrated as Barrichello fails to see him, costing him precious time.
At the end of the first DRS zone Webber nails Button, the two appearing to touch. Knowing the Red Bull driver has to stop again, Button doesn't bother trying to re-take the position.
As Hamilton is told that it is going to be very close at the pit stop Schumacher pits.
As the Ferrari pits at the end of lap 43 he has an HRT right in front of him. To further hurt the Spaniard it's not a very good stop, he rejoins 4.4s behind Hamilton.
Rosberg, currently third, still has to pit. The German currently doing a fair job of holding Webber at bay, the Australian surprisingly unassertive. Elsewhere, Massa has collected a small piece of debris (a bit of front wing).
Webber passes Rosberg, however, with a pit stop still required it remains to be seen where he will end up in ten laps time. The Australian is currently the fastest man on track, however, with the current gaps he would drop to fifth.
Though Webber and Rosberg still have to stop, after 47 laps, it's: Hamilton, Alonso, Webber, Rosberg, Button, Massa, Schumacher, Sutil, di Resta, Kobayashi, Perez, Barrichello, Petrov, Maldonado, Alguersuari, Senna, Kovalainen, Trulli, Glock, Ricciardo and Liuzzi.
Rosberg pits at the end of lap 48, the German rejoining in sixth, elsewhere, Massa has spun at Turn 1, which is good news for Webber who posts another fastest lap (42.830).
Webber is advised of Massa's spin and told that he is now clear of the Brazilian. Of course, this is assuming that there are no further problems when the Australian pits.
On lap 51, Webber posts another fastest lap (42.612), as Ricciardo becomes the fourth retirement of the day.
A loose bollard at Turn 13 mean that the yellow flags will remain for the rest of vthe race.
At the end of lap 54 Webber dives into the pits. Show with a set of medium tyres he rejoins in fourth, well ahead of Massa.
Hamilton takes the flag, the Englishman dedicating the win to his mother whose birthday it is today. Out of the car, the 2008 champ runs over to his crew, a glimpse of the happy guy we had all become used to.
In the wake of the Indian Grand Prix, a McLaren source told Pitpass that even if he won both remaining races, Hamilton would still feel this to be his Annus horribilis. Well, having won one of those two events it will be interesting to see if that's how he really feels.
On Thursday, he spoke of rebuilding his comfort zone, his bubble, surely this is as god a place to start.
Behind the Englishman it's Alonso, Button, Webber, Massa, Rosberg, Schumacher, Sutil, di Resta and Kobayashi.
Perez finishes eleventh, ahead of Barrichello, Petrov, Maldonado, Alguersuari, Senna, Kovalainen, Trulli, Glock and Liuzzi.
Other than the question as to what caused Vettel's puncture, one has to wonder at the result had the German not been sidelined, after all, the McLarens had dominated every practice session.
Whatever it was that put the world champion out of the race, the fact is that the McLarens were in superb shape as was Alonso.
Whether Red Bull adopted the correct strategy in terms of Webber is for the Milton Keynes team and its driver to decide, however, they did well to salvage a strong fourth.
Another double points finish for Mercedes while Force India consolidates sixth place in the team standings and Sauber re-takes seventh.
In all honesty, the race was a lot better than expected, indeed, contrary to what was expected the two DRS zones provided a lot of the entertainment.
Summing up, a convincing win for Hamilton that will hopefully get him back in the bubble and get the media off his back.
Check out our Abu Dhabi GP gallery, here.