Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2011, Yas Marina Circuit - Race 18/19

Oynas · 13 Nov 2011 at 16:56

CaptainRAVE said:
Missed todays race - kind of lost interest now the championship has been wrapped up, but it sounds like I missed a good one. Will catch the highlights later (may aswell get used to it for next year!).

The race wasn't great, to be honest. However, it was refreshing to see Vettel not finish and nice to see Hamilton perform a faultless drive.

3dcandy · 13 Nov 2011 at 17:07

Yup Button first driver to ever beat Hamilton over a season...how many people would have thought that?

dannyjo22 · 13 Nov 2011 at 17:38

Really pleased for Hamilton, hopefully this will be the springboard to a better start in 2012. Buttons drove his best ever to beat Hamilton this year, no one can take that away from him but I still say hamilton is 28 points behind in his worst ever season. For that reason I don't like the way Hamiltons demise is always reported by the media.

Anyway, best of three. See who comes out on top next year

Immsy · 13 Nov 2011 at 17:44

Anyone any ideas why this race isnt going to be on the iPlayer?

Merlin5 · 13 Nov 2011 at 17:58

Immsy said:
Anyone any ideas why this race isnt going to be on the iPlayer?

Vettel has banned it because he's not in the race.

Duke · 13 Nov 2011 at 18:00

Some terrible blocking by the back markers this race, I see some got time penalties as well - http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96195

pingwing · 13 Nov 2011 at 18:05

Duke said:
Some terrible blocking by the back markers this race, I see some got time penalties as well - http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96195

Bit of a waste, Maldonardo really should have gotten a grid drop for doing it repeatedly...

englishpremier · 13 Nov 2011 at 18:09

Duke said:
Some terrible blocking by the back markers this race, I see some got time penalties as well - http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96195

Hurt Hamilton, Alonso and Webber badly.

I would have back flagged Maldonardo in the end, he was all over the place.

Petrov was shocking too. It puts into perspective how much better Heidfeld was than the current two Renault drivers.

Reaper 392 · 13 Nov 2011 at 18:54

sorry for asking what has almost certainly been asked many times, but does anyone know the full story of vettels tyre, or is it still not really known what happened?

CaptainRAVE · 13 Nov 2011 at 18:55

Is it me or does Massa do a lot of spinning? I wish they would get someone new in that seat.

~Mike~ · 13 Nov 2011 at 18:58

CaptainRAVE said:
Is it me or does Massa do a lot of spinning? I wish they would get someone new in that seat.

I feel his days are numbered. Wouldn't surprise me if he is replaced for next year even though he has a contract.

~Mike~ · 13 Nov 2011 at 19:03

Well done to Lewis on winning. Nice to see him smile again.

Also well done to Jenson, difficult race for him with the KERS problem. Hope he secures second in the championship at the last race.

Its great to see the British drivers doing well.

Glaucus · 13 Nov 2011 at 19:08

Reaper 392 said:
sorry for asking what has almost certainly been asked many times, but does anyone know the full story of vettels tyre, or is it still not really known what happened?

They don't know. Apparently they went and inspected the kerbs for any clues and couldn't find any. And apparently tried finding as many parts of the tyre as they could from the entire track, to see if there was anything that could tell them.

Locky · 13 Nov 2011 at 19:33

Now lewis has got rid of that tart of a girlfriend and his head is in the right place, and a springboard from this week looks like things are looking up for lewis.

Indy500 · 13 Nov 2011 at 19:51

Mike306 said:
I feel his days are numbered. Wouldn't surprise me if he is replaced for next year even though he has a contract.

Indeed, he hasn't finished higher than 5th this season.

LizardKing · 13 Nov 2011 at 19:57

Its a shame that Seb retired, i feel we were robbed of a display of his true driving talents as he tried to regain positions. Hamilton proved how easy it is to maintain a gap.

LizardKing · 13 Nov 2011 at 19:57

Mike306 said:
I feel his days are numbered. Wouldn't surprise me if he is replaced for next year even though he has a contract.

Barrichello back to Ferrari? :eek:

Mr Jack · 13 Nov 2011 at 20:28

Well done Lewis, Alonso and Button. All three had good races. It was all a bit dull after the first few laps, wasn't it? A real shame Vettel's car was wrecked, I'd have loved to see him fight back.

Irish_Tom · 13 Nov 2011 at 20:38

Mr Jack said:
Well done Lewis, Alonso and Button. All three had good races. It was all a bit dull after the first few laps, wasn't it? A real shame Vettel's car was wrecked, I'd have loved to see him fight back.

Yeah, I was really hoping he would make it into the pits, get a new tyre and then fight his way through the pack.

Glad Lewis got a win, he looked happier than we've seen him all season!

sunama · 13 Nov 2011 at 20:52

Mr Jack said:
Well done Lewis, Alonso and Button. All three had good races. It was all a bit dull after the first few laps, wasn't it? A real shame Vettel's car was wrecked, I'd have loved to see him fight back.

That's what I wanted to see: Vettel in fight-back mode. I think the audience was robbed when his car broke down completely.

We have see all the other top drivers fight from the back and move to the front of the grid, but as yet, we haven't seen this from Vettel. For him to be classified as one of the greats (which after winning his 3rd title, next year, he will be), he has to put in at least one great fightback.