[E90SLAM]

Here I say it again. Double point system is F***ING stupid! Regardless of double points or no double points. This weekened will be the title decider!

Anyhow, just like any other F1 season, 2014 seems to be done in a blur. 18 races done and dusted, and down to the final race.

A showdown between Hamilton and Rosberg. Championship is completely up in the air. Track record is useless, where as Hamilton had won here before, but he also DNF here before as well.

But as far as points concern, all Hamilton needs to do is to follow Nico to finish P2 and comfortably win the championship. Personally I'd doubt he likes it that way.

We shall see!!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!
The race could end in a snore-fest.

This is also the final race for the decade long partnership between McLaren and Mercedes.

Race Date: 23 Nov 2014
First Grand Prix: 2009
Number of Laps: 55
Circuit Length: 5.554 km
Race Distance: 305.355 km
Lap Record: 1:40.279 - S Vettel (2009)

Tire Compounds Provided:
Prime: Soft (Yellow)
Option: Super-Soft (Red)
Rain: Cinturato Intermediate (Green) / Cinturato Wet (Blue)

F1 TIMETABLE (Abu Dhabi Local Time)
Fri 21 November 2014
Practice 1 13:00 - 14:30
Practice 2 17:00 - 18:30
Sat 22 November 2014
Practice 3 14:00 - 15:00
Qualifying 17:00
Sun 23 November 2014
Race 17:00

F1 TIMETABLE (Pacific Time)
Fri 21 November 2014
Practice 1 01:00 - 02:30
Practice 2 05:00 - 06:30
Sat 22 November 2014
Practice 3 02:00 - 03:00
Qualifying 05:00
Sun 23 November 2014
Race 05:00

F1 TIMETABLE (Eastern Time)
Fri 21 November 2014
Practice 1 04:00 - 05:30
Practice 2 08:00 - 09:30
Sat 22 November 2014
Practice 3 05:00 - 06:00
Qualifying 08:00
Sun 23 November 2014
Race 08:00

[954Stealth]

Abu-Double time!!

[Chihuahua]

Dear little tiny baby jesus in heaven, please do NOT allow 'double points' to decide this year's championship.

[solstice]

Originally Posted by Kyle B

Dear little tiny baby jesus in heaven, please do NOT allow 'double points' to decide this year's championship.

+1.

On the other hand, it's just a trophy and some more money on an already huge pile. We all know what the fastest car-driver package is this season and who deserves the title and so do everyone that counts in F1 ( team bosses etc. ). A trophy is big but reputation is bigger, just look at Alonso and his presumably decent contract with McLaren. I would think the 4 time champ's contract with Fezza is not nearly as lucrative.

[E90SLAM]

Double points or no double points.
As long as Hamilton finishes P2 or wins. Under both scoring scenarios, Lewis still wins the WDC. So does either drivers DNF, and the other wins.

But, without double points, Hamilton does have more margin of errors to finish lower positions.

[E90SLAM]

The 2014 Drivers’ Championship is in Lewis Hamilton’s hands as F1 heads to the double points finale in Abu Dhabi.

Even if Nico Rosberg clinches the 50 points on offer for victory second place will be enough for Hamilton at the Yas Maria Circuit to become World Champion for a second time.

If Rosberg is second, then Hamilton would only need to finish fifth and the Briton is yet to finish off the podium when he has reached the chequered flag this year. A third-place finish for Rosberg would leave Hamilton only needing to finish sixth.

Rosberg must finish in the top five to have any chance of becoming the first Mercedes World Champion since Juan Manuel Fangio in 1955. If he is sixth or lower Hamilton can afford to retire from the race and still become champion.



http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/12...erg-have-to-do

[solstice]

In other words as long as Lewis car doesn't break down by fault or crash he will clinch the WC.

[thebishman]

The stupidity of F1 management and the FIA is staggering given the incredible intelligence of the teams. No doubt this double point fiasco was thought up by the Troll and the idiots at the FIA in order to spice up the Driver's Championship at a time when Vettel was running away with things. BUT, the moron brigade failed to remember that this would be a completely different game this year given the new cars and power plants, and the chance of one individual leaving everyone in the dust was slim. Unbelievable.

As for the comments that 'everyone' knows who should have/deserved the DC if Rosberg wins, is unfortunately failing to remember that all advertising for the next year will have Rosberg in it, not Lewis, and only committed fans like us will know that Rosberg didn't deserve the title.

Bish

[Bowser330]

Why isn't anyone saying its the car like they used to say about Redbull all those years? Oh this time, no no, its the driver, yes the driver....of course.

[solstice]

Originally Posted by Bowser330

Why isn't anyone saying its the car like they used to say about Redbull all those years? Oh this time, no no, its the driver, yes the driver....of course.

Between Rosberg and Hamilton? That's the only drivers discussed here and the only two who can win the WC. I think ROS car has been more reliable but other than that, I'd say it's the driver between these two.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by solstice

Between Rosberg and Hamilton? That's the only drivers discussed here and the only two who can with the GC. I think ROS car has been more reliable but other than that, I'd say it's the driver between these two.

He was talking about Vettel vs Hamilton. Vettel was labeled "an ok driver in a great car" but Hamilton in a clearly dominant Mercedes is a "superior driver". It's poppycock.

[thebishman]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

He was talking about Vettel vs Hamilton. Vettel was labeled "an ok driver in a great car" but Hamilton in a clearly dominant Mercedes is a "superior driver". It's poppycock.

No it's not and here IMHO is why: Vettel has a specific driving style whereby last years Redbull suited him perfectly; i.e. punch the throttle at the apex and let Adrian Newey's superior aerodynamics (the rear diffuser) 'suck' the rear end to the road and woosh, he was gone.

Vettel has simply not been able to adapt to the torque characteristics and the markedly different handling of the 2014 cars, whilst others, including Ricciardo have. In certain ways it seems to make him a somewhat unidimensional driver to my thinking. I fear that he will not be much more successful at Ferrari next year because he hasn't, (can't?) adapt as well. This makes an Alonso and Hamilton ultimately a better overall driver than Vettel, who without a doubt is still a phenom.

Bish

[Bowser330]

Originally Posted by thebishman

No it's not and here IMHO is why: Vettel has a specific driving style whereby last years Redbull suited him perfectly; i.e. punch the throttle at the apex and let Adrian Newey's superior aerodynamics (the rear diffuser) 'suck' the rear end to the road and woosh, he was gone.

Vettel has simply not been able to adapt to the torque characteristics and the markedly different handling of the 2014 cars, whilst others, including Ricciardo have. In certain ways it seems to make him a somewhat unidimensional driver to my thinking. I fear that he will not be much more successful at Ferrari next year because he hasn't, (can't?) adapt as well. This makes an Alonso and Hamilton ultimately a better overall driver than Vettel, who without a doubt is still a phenom.

Bish

I would love to hold Vettel to task for his lack of adaptation because I agree with you to some extent, however his car has been crap since preseason testing. I think once it started to get more reliable he did rather well.

I was at Suzuka this year, Turn 2, the speed of those MBZ cars was unmatched, the cars were beasts and they sounded scary mean too.
Vettel did really well to get into 3rd after starting 9th.

[E9TOU]

I don't like the double points either and hope it doesn't play a role in this weekend's race. I also hope Mercedes sorts out any reliability issues and allow both drivers a shot at the title. This is the only way this weekend's results will be non-controversial.

As far as the Vettel comparison goes, I kind of like that he has been struggling because he gives some honest insight as to why, instead of just b*tching that he has a crap car.

[NickyC]

Wake me when it's over.

[hellrotm]

Originally Posted by Bowser330

I would love to hold Vettel to task for his lack of adaptation because I agree with you to some extent, however his car has been crap since preseason testing. I think once it started to get more reliable he did rather well.

Doesn't explain his teammate kicking Vettel's ass this season. Vettel will be tested at Ferrari. Will he dominate Kimi like Alonso did this year. The only true way to determine a drivers speed is against his teammate driving the same equipment.

[hellrotm]

Originally Posted by E9TOU

...instead of just b*tching that he has a crap car.

Ricciardo is driving that same crap car to race victories. Just saying. I will add the car isn't crap, the powerplant is.

[six_timer]

Originally Posted by BlackJetE90

Ricciardo is driving that same crap car to race victories. Just saying. I will add the car isn't crap, the powerplant is.

Vettel's cars have often had mechanical issues that Ricciardo's cars haven't, and that's indisputable. As I've mentioned before, there are many examples of top drivers having bad seasons due to factors such as mechanics, accidents, bad luck, and adaptability. It happened to Alonso at McLaren. In fact, it happened to Raikkonnen at McLaren. We'll see what happens at Ferrari.

[Bowser330]

Originally Posted by five_timer

Vettel's cars have often had mechanical issues that Ricciardo's cars haven't, and that's indisputable. As I've mentioned before, there are many examples of top drivers having bad seasons due to factors such as mechanics, accidents, bad luck, and adaptability. It happened to Alonso at McLaren. In fact, it happened to Raikkonnen at McLaren. We'll see what happens at Ferrari.

+1

They better give him a good car (Ferrari), for $80M/year they want a championship!

[hellrotm]

Originally Posted by five_timer

Vettel's cars have often had mechanical issues that Ricciardo's cars haven't, and that's indisputable. As I've mentioned before, there are many examples of top drivers having bad seasons due to factors such as mechanics, accidents, bad luck, and adaptability. It happened to Alonso at McLaren. In fact, it happened to Raikkonnen at McLaren. We'll see what happens at Ferrari.

Ricciardo has constantly had quicker pace than Vettel. That has nothing to do with reliability. Ricciardo has flat out driven Vettel this year.

[Bowser330]

Originally Posted by BlackJetE90

Ricciardo has constantly had quicker pace than Vettel. That has nothing to do with reliability. Ricciardo has flat out driven Vettel this year.

Please enlighten me on how it has nothing to do with reliability please

[Pig Farmer]

With Mercedes holding the Constructor's Championship, why wouldn't Hamilton take a page out of Senna's book and torpedo Rosberg in turn 1?