Tom Cary: Really pleased for Hamilton. Massive win and just what doctor
ordered. McLaren will really enjoy that. Major relief. Cloud lifted. Button
frustrating race but will be very happy/proud to have beaten Hamilton this
year – whatever they may tell us about not caring.”
1448 Fernando Alonso one of the first drivers to congratulate Hamilton,
closely followed by Button. Love him or hate him it’s great to see the smile
back on his face. Drivers making their way to the podium andf thank goodness
the race finishes at night and there is no excuse for Lewis Hamilton to wear
sunglasses! God Save Our Queen playing … wonder if he’ll complain about it
not being long enough this weekend?! In all honestly he’ll be lapping up
every second of this moment.
1-10 and points scorers: Hamilton, Alonso, Button, Webber, Massa, Rosberg,
Schumacher, Sutil, Di Resta, Kobayashi
Lewis Hamilton on the radio: “I want to dedicate this to my mum,
happy birthday, I’m really glad I could do this for you guys, thank you very
much.
Final Lap Webber comes into the pits and emerges in fourth place as
expected. I imagine he will have something to say about the team’s approach.
I have little doubt he would be on the podium had he not been subjected to a
9.4 second pit stop earlier. It’s been a relatively straightforward race for
Hamilton and he has eased through to win.
Lap 54 so it seems likely that we’re looking at a Hamilton win, Alonso
second and Button third (Webber still to pit) but then again who knows what
could happen! Force India have done fantastically to have both their cars in
the points (again as things stand) in the team standings that will mean an
enormous amount to them.
Lap 53 Ricciardo is the fourth retirement of the race … happens on
quite a regular basis for him it seems. Shame. So Webber expected in at the
end of this lap for the white marked tyres.
Lap 50 five laps to go then, Webber told about Massa going off and that
his pace is bang on the money. Apparently McLaren now getting a little
nervous about Webber’s pace but he has another stop to make. If you’re
joining me at the tail end of this race and wondering why I haven’t mention
Sebastian Vettel it’s because he hasn’t been in the race for the last 49
laps. Believe it or not he retired before the end of lap one.
Lap 49 huge pressure off Red Bull as Massa spins off the circuit and
now has Rosberg on his tail. Webber the fastest man on the track with
1:42:830
Lap 48 Webber has found some incredible pace and Alonso is going to
have to be careful! Rosberg and Button scrapping for fourth.
Lap 47 Kobayashi has now got himself into the point, despite his
penalties Maldonado is holding on to 14th and Barrichello is in 12th.
Lap 46 Alonso almost a second slower than Hamilton now. Rosberg has to
pit again so there’ll be more position ovement before this is up.
1-5 Hamilton Alonso Rosberg Webber Button
Lap 43 Alonso’s drive not working and he is pitting, looks disastrous
for Ferrari as HRT car is in front of him. This could have ruined their
hopes. He is out before HRT but the stop was 5.2 seconds … not good enough
for Alonso and Hamilton is in the lead.
Lap 42 Webber overtakes Button for fourth. Will likely mean very little
given that the Red Bull will have to pit for a third time. Alonso yet to pit
and he hasn’t got enough time to stop and ensure he emerges in front of
Hamilton. Radio tells him to keep pushing and that it will be tight because
of traffic.
Lap 41 Hamilton pits and it’s a fantastic stop. Ferrari react and
Alonso will be in shortly. Alonso flying and will be looking to pit faster
than Hamilton and pop out just in front.
From Dom Kavanagh regarding the question above: “Emily, I have to
say that there’s far more of an issue around boredom and motor racing
nowadays, rather than just considering taking Sebastian Vettel out of the
equation. In any case, once we start thinking of extracting the championship
leaders/winners from the sport, then the sport becomes dummed down.
I go to British Superbike Racing (two-wheels) which is real racing, wheel to
wheel, dangerous and full of personalities and real, down to earth
competitors. British Superbikes is drastically reducing technological gizmos
on the bikes from next season to create a level playing field – the spoilt,
mollycoddled F1 drivers by comparison seem to rely heavily on technological
aids in their driving nowadays.
I think Formula 1 needs to look seriously from all angles at the sport and why
it’s become boring. Added to this is the terrible commentary I’m afraid to
say on ITV and BBC radio – today’s commentators don’t know when to shut up –
the Formula 1 commentators could learn allot from Messrs. Whitham and
Bernacle on British Superbikes (Eurosport) who know when to pause for breath
and do so more frequently to allow you to hear the bikes and consider their
previous comments. Perhaps I’m getting a bit off track now (pun intended!).
🙂
1-5 Alonso Hamilton Rosberg Button Webber
Lap 40 Alonso is hacking away at Hamilton’s lead and it seems likely
the Mclaren will be called in soon. Ferrari being very calculated here and
looks like they’re trying to storm for the win in the final laps.
Lap 38 Senna handed drive through penalty and serves it immediately.
Barrichello holding on to 13th to try and give Williams a small something to
smile about in what has been a terrible weekend.
Hamilton, Alonso, Massa, Rosberg, Button, Webber, Schumacher Sutil, Di
Resta and Perez in the points.
Lap 37 Button’s pitted and taken hard tyres so no more stops for him.
Senna is also now under investigation for ignoring blue flags.
Lap 36 Both Maldonado and Alguersuari under investigation for ignoring
blue flags. Front runners starting to come in for second pits, Webber’s gone
on to the option tyres which means he has another stop before the end. Him
Pitting has put Rosberg into fifth.
Hamilton, Alonso, Button, Massa, Webber, Sutil, Schumacher
Lap 33 looks like there could be more trouble coming Maldonado’s way,
he’s just gone wheel-to-wheel with Mark Webber. Williams weekend starting to
nose-dive again. Stewards are not going to be happy with that. Great
duelling between Di Resta and Petrov for 11 and the Briton his holding for
the moment.
Lap 32 Maldonado serves penalty. Jenson Button’s KERS is back and he’s
gaining more and more speed not to mention the battle between Webber and
Massa helping his position hugely. Hamilton’s lead up to 5.6 seconds.
Lap 31 Hamilton the fastest man on the track, he’s clocked a 1:44:511
Lap 30 Maldonado under investigation for not obeying the blue flags and
he is immediately handed a drive through penalty. Huge shame for him as his
race is going fantastically give the 10 place penalty he was handed. Error
from Massa sees Webber break through to take fourth. BUT NO it’s not over
the Brazilian comes back three turns later and reclaims his position. Webber
not coping well under pressure on the tight turns.
Lap 29 Hamilton’s pulled another second ahead of Alonso but there’s not
so great news for Button who has Massa behind and within the DRS time. Great
battle for 3rd going on with the aforementioned two and Mark Webber is
almost in a position to join the party.
Lap 28 Rob Smedley tells Massa his pace is good and he has
enough to catch Button. Di Resta has pitted … Force India out for a one
stop race.
Lap 26 all getting a bit (dare I say it) dull now in Abu Dhabi. Though
last time I said that Hamilton and Massa collided. No chance of that just
yet given their positions.
Lap 24 Kobayashi up to 10th, wonderful stuff from the Sauber driver
who’s looked totally off form for much of the season. He has Maldonado
behind him and Di Resta in his sights. Field is very spread out and the
traffic is causing Hamilton all kinds of problems and that’s allowed Alonso
to gain some time.
Lap 23 Sutil has overtaken Schumacher for 7th and the German has Di
Resta coming up behind him. Hamilton and Alonso storming out front now,
third place Button is a whopping 14 seconds behind though he would be better
off worrying about Felipe Massa who is creeping up on him.
Lap 21-22 Sebastien Buemi and Jerome D’Ambrosio join Sebastian Vettel
on the retirement list.
1-5 Hamilton, Alonso, Button, Massa, Webber
Lap 20 if you’re just joining me then you’ll never believe what has
happened, Vettel is out of the race, yes, I repeat, Vettel is out of the
race. He didn’t make it through lap one, he punctured his tyre going into
turn two and his slow drive to the pits caused too much damage and it was
game over. While that has been just about the only excitement in the race so
far it is still enough to have blown everything wide open.
Lap 19 Kobayashi’s race is improving, he was at the very back for the
first few laps and has climbed to 14th, Maldonado has flown to 11th while
Barrichello has slipped to 17th because of a pit stop.
1-5 Hamilton, Alonso, Button, Massa, Webber
Lap 17 Hamilton goes back to the front of the pack as Red Bull call
Mark Webber in … terrible terrible pit stop for the team, it took 9.4
seconds. The Australian driver is back in fifth now. Bet he is furious …
the one day he isn’t driving in Vettel’s shadow.
1-5 Webber, Hamilton, Alonso, Rosberg, Button
Lap 16 Massa the first of the front runners to pit. his team-mate
Alonso is gaining on Hamilton and has reduced the lead to below two seconds.
Button is back in front on Webber. Hamilton, Button and Alonso pit at the
end of the lap and both teams put the soft tyres on.
1-5 Hamilton, Alonso, Button, Webber, Rosberg
Lap 15 contact between Webber and Button as the Australian over takes
the Briton. Intelligent driving from Button to avoid a collision.
Lap 14 Buemi and Di Resta battling and the Briton has lost out there
and slips to 10th. McLaren confirm Button’s KERS has failed.
Lap 13 Jenson Button on the radio to report he is having a technical
problem which for now remains a mystery. Mark Webber is closing in on the
McLaren. First pit stops expected in the next couple of laps.
Lap 12 sun starting to set in Abu Dhabi and the track looks stunning.
Paul Di Resta radios in to report he is losing traction. Williams continuing
to improve what has been a disastrous weekend for them so far. Barrichello
in 14th with Maldonado in 15th. Apparently Senna’s pit stop on the first lap
was a total error as he thought the safety car was coming out. Very costly.
Lap 11 gap at the front getting bigger, Alonso little over two seconds
behind Hamilton but the Ferrari driver’s closest challenger, Button, is over
five second behind him.
1-5 Hamilton, Alonso, Button, Webber, Massa
Lap 10 Senna starting to make a move from the back … the Brazilian
was forced into an early pit stop on lap one. Perez also looking to work his
way back into the pack after a stop. Michael Schumacher in 7th being made to
work very hard to hold position by Adrian Sutil.
Lap 8 seems Button is back in front of Webber but the gap between 3rd
and 4th and the two ahead is ever growing. Hamilton is just over two seconds
ahead of Alonso. Button told he is the fastest man on the track and also
that he has broken out of Webber’s DRS. McLarens looking strong.
Lap 7 nightmare for Kamui Kobayashi who is at the back of the pack.
Suddenly with Vettel out Mark Webber is coming to life. He’s over taken
Button and now has Alonso in his sights. Great scenes from the Red Bull
garage where Bernie Ecclestone has gone to give Vettel a little pep talk.
Lap 5 Paul Di Resta under huge pressure from Sebastien Buemi and Rubens
Barrichello proving why he has been in this business for 19 seasons; having
started at the back of the grid he has climbed to 14th.
1-5 Hamilton, Alonso, Webber, Button, Massa
Lap 4 so after that drama let me bring you some updates. Hamilton leads
with Alonso and Button behind him in second and third. Webber is fourth with
Massa and Rosberg behind. Hold it Webber has overtaken Button.
GAME OVER FOR VETTEL he’s broken his rear right brake drum. First time
this season he will not finish a race and Schumacher’s record for most wins
in a season is safe.
Lap 2 Vettel had the puncture going in to the corner and it look like
is came from running his tyre wall on the kerb. Nightmare start for the
German who has made it to the pits.
Lap 1 Hamilton leads, Alonso has gone passed Button WHAT A START!
Webber is fourth and Massa is fifth. There’s going to be plenty of movement
in this race!
SEBASTIAN VETTEL GETS A PUNCTURE ON TURN TWO!
1301 two DRS zones out there this afternoon first after turn seven and
the next after turn 10.
1259 drivers out for their formation laps. Will bring you as many
images as possible this afternoon. As the sun sets and this turns to a
nightrace it is just stunning. Hope Williams can improve their weekend. with
Barrichello at the back and Maldonado 17th it is the team’s worst ever
qualifying weekend.
Our F1 man Tom Cary Tweeting a star-studded line up on the grid including the
King of Spain, Juan Carlos, Roberto Mancini and Ronaldo (the fat one as he
put it before retracting the comment).
1255 Right so is it going to be another Sunday race capped off by a Red
Bull win and the German national anthem or can McLaren of Ferrari cause an
upset? I’m favouring the Brits today and think Vettel will finish in a
McLaren sandwich if you will. Button to win and Hamilton third … what do
you think?
1253 not long to go now, amazing to think that at this track last
season this was the situation
in terms of the championship race.
What you need to know about Yas Marina circuit:
Circuit Length: 5.554km/3.451 miles
Laps: 55
Race Distance: 305.361km/189.742
Lap Record: 1 min 40.279 secs (Sebastian Vettel 2009)
2010 winner: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2010 pole position: Sebastian Vettel 1 min 39.394 secs
2010 fastest lap: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 1 min 41.274 secs
Tyre compounds to be used: Medium/soft
Bumpiness: Low
Overtaking chance: Into turns eight and 11
Engine severity: Medium
Brake severity: Medium/high
Average speed: 204kph
Gear changes per lap: 68
Number of corners: 21 (12 left/9 right)
Nico Rosberg: Feeling is good I am confident for today. My aim is to
beat one of the Ferraris and I think it is possible. I can maybe get Massa
on the first corner.”
Standing proud with his Movember moustache, Jenson Button says: I
think the last few races we’ve been strong. Not strong enough to beat
Sebastian and every race we come in hoping we can challenge him but I think
this race is one we’re closer than we have been. I’m looking forward to it
today. It’s amazing how cool it is in the shade. The drop make sit difficult
most will run the harder tyre towards the end, we’ll see.
Standing proud with his Movember moustache, Jenson Button says: I think the
last few races we’ve been strong. Not strong enough to beat Sebastian and
every race we come in hoping we can challenge him but I think this race is
one we’re closer than we have been. I’m looking forward to it today. It’s
amazing how cool it is in the shade. The drop make sit difficult most will
run the harder tyre towards the end, we’ll see.”
Couple of familiar faces in the Red Bull garage
1239 On the topic of Massa and Hamilton, William Hill have been taking
bets at 14-1 on a seventh coming together between the duo at the Yas Marina
circuit while Ladbrokes offered a less generous 5-1. Unlike the McLaren
driver the Ferrari man was not seeing the funny side.”I will do
everything right, which is what I’ve done all the time,” he said. “I’ve
not done anything wrong. Even though we’ve touched this year it has not been
my fault.”
1237 Lewis Hamilton insists he has come to Abu Dhabi this weekend
feeling “clean in his mind” having begun to address the personal
issues that have blighted his season and is looking to rediscover the “happy
bubble” he once lived in. He’s also found his sense of humour. When
asked just how disappointed he was to have been pipped to pole by Vettel he
said: “I’m ahead of Felipe, so that helps.”
1233 Right enough about Vettel and a look back over what’s been going
on this week:
You would think that given his court case in Germany this week Bernie
Ecclestone would have enough on his plate but no, the F1 maestro has ruffled
some feathers on the other side of the Atlantic after casting doubt on the
probability of the Texan Grand Prix going ahead next season.
“Right now I wouldn’t want to put my money down it will happen. I hope
it will and we are doing our best to make it happen,” he said yesterday.”They
want it to happen, so they’ll sort the thing out. I’ve said ‘You guys have
to fall in love. Get married’.”
In response, via a statement published by the Austin Statesman newspaper,
circuit president Steve Sexton said: “Our funding is secured and
construction is on schedule, so we don’t understand Mr Ecclestone’s
comments.
“He has expressed great interest in the Austin race and in expanding the
F1 brand into the United States.”
Here’s what Vettel had to say about levelling Mansell’s record: Here’s
what he had to say about it: “I’m very pleased with the pole. It’s a
very special one to equal Nigel Mansell as well. It’s a fantastic year, but
it’s not over yet, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
1220 Morning/afternoon/evening wherever in the world you may be joining
me from. It’s the penultimate race and for the 14th time this season
Sebastian Vettel is starting from pole position. He pipped Lewis Hamilton in
the dying moments of Q3 yesterday so the Brit starts to his left today with
team-mate Jenson Button in third. For those bored of seeing the German
driver at the front of the pack spare a thought for just what an incredible
feat this is.
Leading the pack out today sees Vettel equal Nigel Mansell’s record of 14 pole
positions in a season and let’s not forget that in a fortnight’s time he can
go one better in Sao Paulo, Brazil. If you’re looking for some discrepancy
then here it is; the British driver did it in 16 races and it’s taken the
Red Bull driver 18. Oh also did I mention that he is also on course to equal
Michael Schumacher’s record of 13 wins in a single season? For that he needs
a win in Abu Dhabi and at the season finale.
How they start:
1. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Red Bull.
2. Lewis Hamilton, Britain, McLaren.
3. Jenson Button, Britain, McLaren.
4. Mark Webber, Australia, Red Bull.
5. Fernando Alonso, Spain, Ferrari.
6. Felipe Massa, Brazil, Ferrari.
7. Nico Rosberg, Germany, Mercedes.
8. Michael Schumacher, Germany, Mercedes.
9. Adrian Sutil, Germany, Force India.
10. Paul Di Resta, Britain, Force India.
11. Sergio Perez, Mexico, Sauber.
12. Vitaly Petrov, Russia, Renault.
13. Sebastien Buemi, Switzerland, Toro Rosso.
14. Bruno Senna, Brazil, Renault.
15. Jaime Alguersuari, Spain, Toro Rosso.
16. Kamui Kobayashi, Japan, Sauber.
17. Pastor Maldonado, Venezuela, Williams.
18. Heikki Kovalainen, Finland, Team Lotus.
19. Jarno Trulli, Italy, Lotus.
20. Timo Glock, Germany, Virgin.
21. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, HRT.
22. Jerome d’Ambrosio, Belgium, Virgin.
23. Vitantonio Liuzzi, Italy, Virgin.
24. Rubens Barrichello, Brazil, Williams.