26/11/2017
NEWS STORY
While Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes early securing of the 2017 titles has taken a lot of the fizz out of today's season finale, there are still a few outstanding matters that will be resolved.
In all honesty, today's race won't see any of those drivers as yet unsigned for 2018 do enough to secure one of the few remaining seats, though if Pascal Wehrlein could make it to the podium it might just help his cause in terms of Williams.
At the same time, barring another start-line disaster for Sebastian Vettel, it is highly unlikely that he will lose runner-up spot to Valtteri Bottas.
On the other hand, with an eye on Daniel Ricciardo recent reliability issues, Kimi Raikkonen could yet leapfrog the Australian for fourth, The Iceman currently just 7 points behind.
The big battle today will be that between Toro Rosso, Renault and Haas for sixth in the team standings, a position the Faenza outfit looks likely to lose as its reliability issues continue.
Just 4 points behind the Faenza team, Renault's Nico Hulkenberg merely has to hold station and finish 7th for the French team to do the job, while a points finish for teammate Carlos Sainz also would finally put Toro Rosso out of its misery.
Haas is in the mix, albeit 6 points behind Toro Rosso, but based on current form and its qualifying performance we can't see that happening.
Though the runner-up spot is seemingly out of reach, Bottas would dearly love to end the season with a win, especially after his run of poor form since the summer break. First however, he has to do a better job of getting off the line than he did in Brazil, the Finn basically throwing his race away.
Having suffered a similarly difficult second half to his season, Sebastian Vettel would also like to sign off for the winter in style, especially if he can take another chink out of the 43 point deficit to champion Hamilton.
Max Verstappen and Ricciardo will also be keen to end the season on a high, especially at a circuit where their team has enjoyed so much success.
However, there is also that little matter of that man Hamilton, who like Michael Schumacher before him, seems remorseless in his quest crush the opposition. Having been quickest in all the practice sessions that mattered, it was only a few late changes to his car that cost him the vital 0.172s needed yesterday to take his 12th pole of the season.
Despite the fact that this is the ninth Grand Prix here, we're still not fans. Despite the bling and talk of 'big hitters', it is soulless, especially as in recent weeks we have enjoyed the passion of Monza, Japan, Mexico and Brazil.
However, we're stuck with it, so all we can hope is that we get a race fitting of the occasion, for if nothing else this is the last time we will see F1 cars race with fully open cockpits, the dreaded Halo device coming into play next season.
For the second successive season we say farewell to Felipe Massa, and this time it is likely to be for good. How nice therefore to see the popular little Brazilian sign off with a points finish, especially as he does not go into that good night of retirement gently.
Felipe has a special place in our hearts at Pitpass, for his signing to Sauber in 2001 was one of the final articles our editor wrote for 'the site that will never be named', while his debut in Melbourne in 2002 was the first race we covered as Pitpass.
The pitlane opens and the drivers begin making their way to the grid.
The optimal strategy today is a one-stopper featuring one stint on ultrasofts for 15-30 laps then supersofts to the flag. However, the low degradation means the strategy can be used the other way round for those starting outside top 10, start on supersoft and finish on the ultrasoft.
The pre-race air display is as impressive as ever, and it is followed by the national anthem. Massa calls his son Felipinho to join him.
Ahead of the warm-up lap, the air temperature is 24 degrees C, while the track temperature is 31 degrees.
All are starting on the purple ultrasofts bar Wehrlein, Ericsson and Hartley who are on supersofts.
As they prepare to head off, Hamilton advises: "It's quite windy out there."
The grid forms.
Bottas gets away well and Hamilton moves across to cover Vettel who locks up into T1. Further along a big spin for Magnussen in T3 while Hartley runs wide in the chicane.
Indeed replay shows all sorts of silliness at the start with cars at the back of the field heading off in all directions, Magnussen having run wide in T1 subsequently spinning at T3.
Raikkonen is all over Riccardo, the two side by side for corner after corner, the Red Bull driver keeps his cool.
At the end of lap 1, it's: Bottas, Hamilton, Vettel, Ricciardo, Raikkonen, Verstappen, Hulkenberg, Perez, Ocon and Massa.
Perez questions whether Hulkenberg exceeded track limits at T2 as he overtook the Mexican. "He needs to give back that position," urges the Force India driver. Hulkenberg however claims: "He pushed me off the track, he made me run wide there." One for the stewards perhaps.
"They don't have to a genius to realise he cut the corner and gained an advantage," says Perez.
Indeed, the stewards are investigating whether Hulkenberg gained an advantage in leaving the track.
Bottas builds a 1.3s lead by the end of lap 3, while Hamilton is 1.9s clear of Vettel.
Hulkenberg is handed a 5s time penalty for "leaving the track and gaining an advantage". That won't please Perez as the German still holds the position.
Lap 4 sees Hamilton post fastest lap ( 43.137) as Vettel slips further back, as do those that follow.
Bottas responds with a 43.011 as Stroll complains that he has no grip. "Honestly I have no rear grip," he screams, "is there anything I can do?"
Grosjean makes a bold move on Vandoorne to take 14th.
"I'm a little bit stuck, I can't do much," says Verstappen as he maintains a 1.2s gap to Raikkonen.
Grosjean passes Stroll for 13th but the Williams driver immediately re-takes the position courtesy of DRS.
While Bottas and Hamilton continue to trade fastest lap, in what is rapidly becoming a procession, Grosjean's pursuit of Stroll is one of the few battles. Elsewhere, following his first lap spin, Magnussen is hunting down Hartley.
Some classic karting manoeuvres as Stroll and Magnussen continue to scrap for 13th. The teenager refusing to be intimidated by the Haas driver.
Raikkonen is urged to close the gap to Ricciardo again, he is currently 3.7s adrift.
"You need to obey the dotted line at T11, don't go over the dotted line" Grosjean is told. "I'm starting to get a bit fed up with the rules," is the awesome response.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Yas Island, here.
Still they fight, but this time Grosjean is prepared for the Williams driver and holds on to the position. The battle starts at T8 and last through to T11, with more than a little argy-bargy along the way.
Stroll subsequently pits, having clearly flat-spotted his tyres during that battle, rejoining the race in 20th.
"Tell me the distance with Massa on the start/finish line... every lap," shouts Alonso. The Spaniard is currently 0.7s behind his former teammate and current nemesis.
Hamilton told to take T9 in second gear due to a "little vibration".
Vandoorne pits, rejoining in 20th behind Stroll.
Verstappen pits at the end of lap 14, rejoining in 9th behind Perez and Ocon, the Mexican having fallen 7s behind Hulkenberg.
As Alonso closes on Massa it's Brazil all over again.
Raikkonen pits at the end of lap 15, the Finn, despite a poor stop, gets out ahead of Ocon and Verstappen.
Clearly frustrated at the fact he still has Raikkonen ahead, Verstappen makes short work of Ocon. The Frenchman tries to respond but the Red Bull is already heading into the distance.
Perez pits as Gasly spins in T20, thereby allowing teammate Hartley to pass.
"I lost the rear completely," says Gasly, "but the car is OK."
Hulkenberg pits at the end of lap 17, first to serve his penalty and then change his tyres. However, there's an issue with the right-rear and he's slow to get away. Nonetheless, he rejoins in 12th... right ahead of Perez.
Asked if his tyres are OK, Ricciardo responds in the affirmative. "I can keep this pace," he says.
"This is like driving a rally car!" claims Vandoorne.
Having apparently suffered a puncture, Ricciardo pits... but the team isn't ready for him. He rejoins in 4th ahead of Raikkonen.
Now Hulkenberg is battling Grosjean, with Perez right behind.
Vettel pits at the end of lap 20, the German rejoining the race still third.
Replay shows Ricciardo clouting the wall earlier, which no doubt caused his puncture.
More problems for the Australian, a hydraulic issue means his race is over. He pulls off track and parks up at T5.
Bottas pits at the end of lap 21, returning to the track 19.7s down on race leader Hamilton. Mercedes appeared to think there would be a Safety Car after Ricciardo's retirement.
Alonso also pits, the Spaniard suffering an issue with his left rear.
One man's bad news is another man's fortune, for Ricciardo's retirement means Raikkonen can leapfrog him in the standings.
Massa pits and superb pit-work sees him rejoin ahead of Alonso. The McLaren driver is a man on a mission, and barges his way through. However, Massa hasn't given up... far from it.
Hamilton pits at the end of lap 24, the world champion rejoining 2.251s behind Bottas.
"Gap to Sainz only 21.4s," Alonso is told. The McLaren driver is currently 11th while his countryman is 7th, though the Renault driver is one of several still to stop.
"Okay, but it's what we have," says Alonso. "I would love to be quicker, I would love a podium, I would love many things, but it's what we have..."
Hamilton closes to within 1.1s of his teammate as Hartley makes his first stop of the afternoon.
At half distance, it's: Bottas, Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, Verstappen, Ocon, Sainz, Hulkenberg, Perez and Grosjean. That said, Ocon, Sainz and Grosjean have yet to stop, as have Wehrlein, Gasly and Ericsson.
A big, big lock up for Hamilton and a subsequent trip across the expansive run-off as he shadows his Mercedes teammate.
"It's a ******* disaster," cries Stroll as he is stuck behind Hartley and unable to make an impression. "I'm trying to do everything I can, but it just goes backwards."
Gasly and Ericsson both pits at the end of lap 31.
Next time around Ocon and Sainz pit. They rejoin in 9th (Ocon) and 11th (Sainz).
Indeed, Sainz has an issue, one of his tyres is loose, he pulls to the side of the track, his race over. Replay shows that even as he left the pits his left-front was clearly not fitted properly.
The look on the faces of the management, including Alain Prost, in the Renault garage, says it all.
Ericsson closes in on Stroll at a rate of knots, the Swede subsequently leaving the Williams for dead.
Alonso enquires after his teammate. Told he had an issue and is back in 12th, the Spaniard asks: "Is there nothing we can do to help him, to get him the points?"
"The gap between Checo and Esteban is closing and we wonder if the ones set off by the race organisers will be the only fireworks tonight," wonders Force India.
As if evidence of Mercedes superiority were still needed, it's worth noting that while Hamilton is just 1.175s down on the race leader, third-placed Vettel is a further 19.7s down the road.
As they wind their way through the backmarkers, Verstappen weaves from side to side in an attempt to clean his tyres, 3.2s down on Raikkonen the Red Bull driver appears to be preparing for a late assault.
Wehrlein is all over Magnussen, as they battle for 13th, while Hartley keeps a watching eye. "Come on," Brendon, the Kiwi is urged. With the aid of DRS, Wehrlein makes a great move on the Haas. Alas, with the aid of DRS the Haas retakes the position.
As Hamilton starts to up his pace again, Bottas responds with a new fastest lap.
"You can't follow for **** here," suggests the world champion.
"Wow, they did really well there," says Verstappen sarcastically. "Unbelievable!" The Red Bull driver is referring to backmarkers Wehrlein, Magnussen and Vandoorne, having lost valuable time as he weaved his way through them.
From out of nowhere, Hamilton makes a move on his teammate, they almost touch such is the suddenness of the assault. As the pair close in on Alonso, aware of the leaders rapid approach, the Spaniard smartly and politely moves aside for them.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Yas Island, here.
Replay shows that in fact Bottas had made a mistake and locked-up, thereby allowing Hamilton to close in.
Vettel, now 19.59s adrift of the leaders, posts a new fastest lap (41.244).
Bottas responds with his own fastest lap (40.750), before improving to 40.650.
They begin the final lap, Hamilton now 4.8s behind his teammate having clearly eased off. Vettel is a further 17.8s behind with Raikkonen a massive 23.6s behind him.
Bottas wins, the Finn signing off his season in style, ahead of Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, Verstappen, Hulkenberg, Perez, Ocon, Alonso and Massa.
Grosjean is eleventh, ahead of Vandoorne, Magnussen, Wehrlein, Hartley, Gasly, Ericsson and Stroll
All of which means the Vettel retains runner-up spot and Raikkonen finishes the season fourth in the standings.
In the team standings, Hulkenberg's 6th is more than enough for Renault to claim sixth in its second season back in the sport as a constructor.
We're not sure whether Homer Simpson is a fan of F1 but he'd definitely enjoy the donuts served up post-race, everybody seemingly getting in on the act.
As is the tradition here, off go the fireworks, which will probably wake up those poor souls who fell asleep over the course of the previous 94 minutes. Let's face it, this was hardly the most exciting race of the season.
Massa joins the Mercedes duo on the grid while Vettel heads into the pitlane.
It's all smiles in the ante-room before the podium ceremony, Hamilton and Vettel appear friendly again.
"It was so hard to follow, I was like 'where are all the backmarkers?" says Hamilton, who then suggests "I think they need to change this track."
"It is a really important win for me, after having a pretty difficult start to the second half of the year, working hard with all the issues" says Bottas on the podium. "I couldn't be happier to end the season like this.
"Obviously, congrats to Lewis for the title, and Sebastian for the second place in the championship," he adds, "I was third this year, maybe better next year.
"I was really managing the pace, and that way the race, and that was a nice feeling," he says of the battle with Hamilton. "One bit of a lock-up as I was approaching one of the lapped cars, but otherwise no issues. The car was so good!"
"Big, big congratulations to Valtteri today," says Hamilton, "he did an amazing job to hold me off.
"It was a great race," he continues, "I gave it everything, every single lap, you can't overtake here and in that last sector you really struggle.
"I just want to say a big thank you to the team here and back at the factory," he adds, "what they've produced this year is just incredible. It's a real honour to race for them. And then to have this amount of support here, thank you. I'm looking forward to coming back strong next year!"
"I had a good start," says Vettel, "but there was nowhere to go, I locked-up a little bit and flat-spotted the tyres a tiny bit. Then after three or four laps I just couldn't go any faster and they pulled away. From there it was pretty lonely.
"But I have to say, in the second stint I got into the rhythm, I think we had stronger pace, but not good enough to match those two guys.
"Congrats to Valtteri for his win, and to Lewis for his title, he deserved to win. I hate to say it but he was the better man.
"I'm sure we will do out bit over the winter and hopefully come back stronger.
As the 2017 season comes to an end, Liberty Media gives fans of the future as it unveils the sport's new logo. All we'll say is that the Pitpass cats claim they could have done better.
Funny enough, we believe them.
Not the best end to the season, but as Sebastian said, the best man won, as did the best team.
However, with minimal changes to the rules, certainly those that matter, who would bet against it being the same result here again next year?
Until next time.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Yas Island, here.