mika
Still Wondering
Saturday, 22 November 2014
Cage World | Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Qualifying update
ON THE TRACK
Rosberg on pole for title decider in Abu Dhabi
German finishes four tenths of a second ahead of rival Hamilton to take 11th pole of season. Bottas third for Williams.
Formula1.com Post Race Press Conference
Formula1.com Qualifying Selected Team and Driver Quotes
FWIW Rosberg pipped Hamilton in the final flying laps of Q3 to take the Abu Dhabi GP pole. P2 Hamilton had led the previous qualifying sessions and Q3 to that point. If, two hours or less after the starting lights go green, this P1 Rosberg P2 Hamilton all Mercedes front row finishes that way, or swaps positions, Lewis Hamilton will be the 2014 Driver Champion. The permutations after that have been previously posted. Just as there are many a slip between cup and lip that can lead things astray; there are many things that could go astray for either Hamilton and Rosberg between lights going green and checkered flag falling. Hamilton is my pick. To prove me right and become the 2014 Drivers Champion he must avoid the many slips between cup and lip those two hours will offer up.
The Race to Turn 8
The Mercedes duos first challenge is getting to turn 8 on lap 1 in one piece. In turn this challenge breaks down into three parts: 1) the lights turn green, 2) turn 1 and 3) surviving turns 5-7.
When the reds go out and the race goes green the Mercedes drivers will no doubt sort themselves out but how will they deal with the Williams drivers taking up row two, is the first challenge. Bottas, like Rosberg, pipped his teammate Massa to take superior grid position. To that point Massa had out performed his teammate in both qualifying sessions. More importantly he had done it with consistent times that challenged the Mercedes pairs times. All four are very capable drives; however a slip here could have these four pilling up.
The Yas Marina Circuit offers up a hard left at the end of the grandstand straight. Assuming the front four launch safely they must sort themselves out to get around turn 1 in one piece. All are capable drivers that should understand races are won well after someone wins the L1 Turn 1 race. However, never under estimate the stupidity of a SUV driver with a cell phone in their hand or a F1 driver heading into turn 1 on lap 1.
After making it through turn one the races negotiate a few sweeping bendy bits, sort their order out a bit, catch their breath and get ready for the next grandstand section. This section offers up a left right combination leading into a hairpin then the long straight to turn 8. Turn 5 will bunch the drivers up once more as they head into this combination of grandstand turns. They build grandstands around turn combinations like this to give race fans great views of brilliant overtakes or racing carnage. There is potential for both but drivers will be hope for the former. Achieving that they will have a long straight to drag race each other and begin to remember this is a 55 lap race. That said, never underestimate a F1 driver.
The Rest of the Story
On the other side of Lap 1 Turn 8 the race will unfold over 54+ laps. Honestly I don't have a clue how that will work. That is why they hold the races and we watch them is to see how the story line of the race plays out and who wins at the end.
My Sunday predictions ? Packers over the ViQueens (hopefully BIG) and Hamilton wears the 2014 Driver Championship crown.
Cage World | Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Qualifying update
ON THE TRACK
Rosberg on pole for title decider in Abu Dhabi
German finishes four tenths of a second ahead of rival Hamilton to take 11th pole of season. Bottas third for Williams.
Formula1.com Post Race Press Conference
Formula1.com Qualifying Selected Team and Driver Quotes
FWIW Rosberg pipped Hamilton in the final flying laps of Q3 to take the Abu Dhabi GP pole. P2 Hamilton had led the previous qualifying sessions and Q3 to that point. If, two hours or less after the starting lights go green, this P1 Rosberg P2 Hamilton all Mercedes front row finishes that way, or swaps positions, Lewis Hamilton will be the 2014 Driver Champion. The permutations after that have been previously posted. Just as there are many a slip between cup and lip that can lead things astray; there are many things that could go astray for either Hamilton and Rosberg between lights going green and checkered flag falling. Hamilton is my pick. To prove me right and become the 2014 Drivers Champion he must avoid the many slips between cup and lip those two hours will offer up.
The Race to Turn 8
The Mercedes duos first challenge is getting to turn 8 on lap 1 in one piece. In turn this challenge breaks down into three parts: 1) the lights turn green, 2) turn 1 and 3) surviving turns 5-7.
When the reds go out and the race goes green the Mercedes drivers will no doubt sort themselves out but how will they deal with the Williams drivers taking up row two, is the first challenge. Bottas, like Rosberg, pipped his teammate Massa to take superior grid position. To that point Massa had out performed his teammate in both qualifying sessions. More importantly he had done it with consistent times that challenged the Mercedes pairs times. All four are very capable drives; however a slip here could have these four pilling up.
The Yas Marina Circuit offers up a hard left at the end of the grandstand straight. Assuming the front four launch safely they must sort themselves out to get around turn 1 in one piece. All are capable drivers that should understand races are won well after someone wins the L1 Turn 1 race. However, never under estimate the stupidity of a SUV driver with a cell phone in their hand or a F1 driver heading into turn 1 on lap 1.
After making it through turn one the races negotiate a few sweeping bendy bits, sort their order out a bit, catch their breath and get ready for the next grandstand section. This section offers up a left right combination leading into a hairpin then the long straight to turn 8. Turn 5 will bunch the drivers up once more as they head into this combination of grandstand turns. They build grandstands around turn combinations like this to give race fans great views of brilliant overtakes or racing carnage. There is potential for both but drivers will be hope for the former. Achieving that they will have a long straight to drag race each other and begin to remember this is a 55 lap race. That said, never underestimate a F1 driver.
The Rest of the Story
On the other side of Lap 1 Turn 8 the race will unfold over 54+ laps. Honestly I don't have a clue how that will work. That is why they hold the races and we watch them is to see how the story line of the race plays out and who wins at the end.
My Sunday predictions ? Packers over the ViQueens (hopefully BIG) and Hamilton wears the 2014 Driver Championship crown.