Poll: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2016, Yas Marina - Race 21/21

[Junglist]

I'm shocked at how many people are saying Lewis' tactics were dirty and borderline cheating. Not nescessarily here, but the James Allen blog has 500+ posts and some are livid he dare tried slow Nico down

I do wonder if some of those people have ever played anything competitively. I've personally never been a good loser and I'm not even 2% as competitive as these top guys are.

 

[Regy53]

all of us, would have done the same in that seat

If you did not, then you are not a racer, that's why Lewis in in a Mercedes, even trundling around at what left like the slowest pace possible and then some, Nico still could not get near him.

 

[MooMoo444]

even trundling around at what left like the slowest pace possible and then some, Nico still could not get near him.

To be fair, the track isn't great for overtaking opportunity. Only S1 is good for it and Rosberg said that Hamilton was deliberately being quick through there.

To pass elsewhere would have needed a banzai and risked a massive lockup/flatspot or contact, both of which could put him out of the podium.

 

[Junglist]

But Nico would rather complain and ask for the team to move Lewis rather than go out and get the move done himself.

The seasons over and Nico is WDC, that's all there is to it. I don't believe he is a worthy WDC after his performances this season but that's neither here or there.

 

[smr]

blimey, the media don't half go overboard with things, saying lewis could get the sack! haha.*












*(but if you do sack him merc, JB..) that's all

 

[CSMonkeh]

You wonder if Hamilton chose to fudge the team was also fueled by the cars unreliability; in his mind the team didn't fulfill their side of the bargain.

 

[bobbyspangles]

I don't buy that Hamilton was ever at risk from Vettel, the order for him to speed up was to protect Rosberg. If Vettel had got past Rosberg do you really think Ham wouldn't have then responded by setting some very fast laps.

 

[Shocky-FM]

Formula 1 teams don't see it like that though, they knew either one of their drivers would win the WDC so they're only priority was ensuring the race was won, as is their only priority every other race weekend of the season.

With how quickly Vettel was carving his way from 6th place they had every right to tell Hamilton to speed up, they could see by their calculations, and tbh my Cat could see it too, that Vettel was going to catch Hamilton and pass for the win.

Ferrari winning the last race of the season just because your driver ignores your orders? I can totally understand the Merc management.

Passing? lulz I remember a radio message saying Vettel was on course to win the race, you've got to love the optimism.

What they should have said it you're on course to catch them before the end of the race, overtaking is a bit more difficult as we all know.

Hamilton was never at risk..

 

[Junglist]

You wonder if Hamilton chose to fudge the team was also fueled by the cars unreliability; in his mind the team didn't fulfill their side of the bargain.

In 2016, could you say they did?

 

[smr]

Jenson Button's Abu Dhabi Notebook:

http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/f1/10675143/teds-notebook-abu-dhabi

 

[Duke]

Good read - How Rosberg won the championship - http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2016/11/27/how-rosberg-won-the-championship/

 

[leaskovski]

Formula 1 teams don't see it like that though, they knew either one of their drivers would win the WDC so they're only priority was ensuring the race was won, as is their only priority every other race weekend of the season.

With how quickly Vettel was carving his way from 6th place they had every right to tell Hamilton to speed up, they could see by their calculations, and tbh my Cat could see it too, that Vettel was going to catch Hamilton and pass for the win.

Ferrari winning the last race of the season just because your driver ignores your orders? I can totally understand the Merc management.

Yep, I would agree with that.

 

[thecremeegg]

Formula 1 teams don't see it like that though, they knew either one of their drivers would win the WDC so they're only priority was ensuring the race was won, as is their only priority every other race weekend of the season.

With how quickly Vettel was carving his way from 6th place they had every right to tell Hamilton to speed up, they could see by their calculations, and tbh my Cat could see it too, that Vettel was going to catch Hamilton and pass for the win.

Ferrari winning the last race of the season just because your driver ignores your orders? I can totally understand the Merc management.

But he didn't catch Hamilton? He was nowhere near? He didn't speed up, their calculations were off.

 

[Crippled Potato]

(Pinched from reddit) By god, Andrew Benson has steered the BBC coverage into a pile of horse manure. It's hardly been a day and there's already a bunch of stories questioning his talent.

Spoiler

 

[MooMoo444]

"Is Rosberg a Worthy F1 world champion?"
"Champion - but does Rosberg deserve it?"
"Champion Rosberg will never be Hamilton's equal"

That's just cringeworthy.

 

[Greboth]

Good read - How Rosberg won the championship - http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2016/11/27/how-rosberg-won-the-championship/

Well a good read until you get the comments section anyway

I don't think you can say Rosberg didn't deserve the championship. The only metric that is important is how many points at the end of the final race and Rosberg had more so deserved to win. I do think Hamilton was better over the season and it was mechanical issues that cost him. However this isn't the first and certainly wont be the last time a championship is decided by reliability.

 

[Armageus]

Hamilton should have slowed Rosberg down a lot earlier

he couldn't - he was under orders that if he tried before pit stops, then they would have let Rosberg pit first and have him Undercut Hamilton

 

[The_Abyss]

But Nico would rather complain and ask for the team to move Lewis rather than go out and get the move done himself.

I thought Rosberg's radio messages were actually pretty clever. They served the purpose of reminding the team that the slow pace was putting him, and maybe the result, at risk. What followed (but probably not as a direct result) was a string of instructions for Hamilton to up the pace. Rosberg's suggestion that Hamilton let him by and they could swap back later if required was especially sharp!

I didn't see it as complaining - rather just sending a message to shape thoughts.

 

[dannyjo22]

Its a team sport, not the Lewis Hamilton or Rosberg show. If his team has asked and demanded he do something that's not outside of the rules he should do it. He's a small part of the team. Right now about the least important as any of 10 other drivers currently could fill his role. Any of 100,000 could fill rosbergs.

Mercedes need to have a token effort at least of talking to other drivers, looking at their options. Both these pouty idiots need to realise it's not all about them. Lewis will be quick to mention the times the team let him down over the years, but this is a man that's fully prepared to cheat, lie and throw someone else in the team to the wolves to save his own sorry skin. (Same with Alonso). Mercedes are doing a terrible job of controlling them.

 

[smr]

But he didn't catch Hamilton? He was nowhere near? He didn't speed up, their calculations were off.

No the calculations were on when Merc called them and they were correct, Vettel was lapping 2 seconds quicker pumping in fastest laps. When Vettel got behind Rosberg he couldn't pass as by that point his tyres were going and the DRS wasn't helping which Rosberg was getting from Hamilton. Merc calculated their was a risk, not a 100 percent guarantee Vettel would pass.