http://www.planetf1.com/driver/3260/8216614/Abu-Dhabi-Grand-Prix-Preview Warm, sunny and its only 1 accident from being wide open for the title chase of FA vs Vettel. Qual- Vettel LH JB Race- Vettel JB FA Dark Horse - LH
I will cop out and say the same ^ it's realistic, however: My hopeful race: 1 LH or 2nd 2 Alonso or 1st 3 Web Vet DNF...or out of the points. My radical race prediction: 1.Kimi 2.Button 3.Massa
I predict everyone will fall asleep by lap 2. Seb never got 4 in a row last year when RBR was dominate its disturbing that he is likely to get 5 on the trot FORZA ALONSO!!!!!!!!!!
Qualifying: Webber pulls an amazing lap out of the bag and beats Vettel's time by over 0.5 of a second. Massa also confuses all, including himself, and manages to bump himself up on to the front row of the grid narrowly beating Vettel. His car is completely stripped down by the stewards as they also can't believe it and the only thing they find is the throttle was 3/4s stuck down ... Alonso was just out of luck and sits in fourth beside Vettel. Rolling on to race day and Webber winds the pressure on Vettel again by beating his own qualifying time during the morning warm up, while Vettel can't even get within a full second of this time. Vettel, all fired up, rips out of his car and orders another new chassis as like in 2010 (I think) there is obviously a fault with his one. The team have to remind him that even RedBull, with their wings and all, cannot produce another chassis in the few hours remaining before the race. Compounding Vettel's frustration is the fact that Alonso appears to have found the short cut that Massa was using during qualifying and while not breaking lap records has found some pace and loving his car setup, on full tanks and near empty. The dummy grid empties and Vettel leaves in an enormous cloud of frustrated tyre smoke and nearly dewings himself up against Webber's car. They line up with Vettel's car angled aggressively towards Alonso's and ... away they go. Vettel launches well but Alonso has an even better start, this causes Vettel to be too aggressive and his rear tyres light up and he looses valuable milli-seconds with a twitch. Infront of him Webber has crawled away and Massa has managed to close the door and is 3/4's in front. Alonso is boxed in behind Massa. They reach the first corner and by now Vettel is fouth and having to fight off a LH who is looking up the inside. Vettel pushes his car too deep, nearly touching Alonso's and the rear locks, he catches it but with the momentum lost LH gives his inside rear tyre a nudge and a spin is the result. The rest of the field spill everywhere until Grosjean arrives and punts a hole in the side pod of Vettel's car ... DNF for both. Race resumes after a safety car period and Webber takes on Massa. Massa feeling the presure for his team over does a blocking manoeuvre and the two touch and spin off to retirement ... Alonso cruises home to a win. Pete
I'm already looking very closely at the F2012 developments... I spy a triple-decker rear diffuser: http://motorsport.nextgen-auto.com/gallery/pictures/2012/f1/gp-abudhabi-01nov/063.jpg New front wing, particularly the gurney flap add-ons on the top-right cascade: http://www.formule1.nl/media/uploads/media_images/2012-11-01/racepictures_1351763617.1.jpg I found some coverage on these updates by Gary Anderson: http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/9712/imageowr.jpg
There was quite a buzz about an additional intake tucked under the "coke bottle" of the F2012 and I think I found it...not sure, can anyone confirm? I lightened the pic and made out this curious opening: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8466/8147034686_c216168484_c.jpg
Anyone have any idea what those exposed metal antenna-like sockets are? http://motorsport.nextgen-auto.com/gallery/pictures/2012/f1/gp-abudhabi-01nov/442.jpg I suspect they are some form of socket for vertical fins ala Red Bull? Can anyone confirm?
They measure air speeds at different parts of the car . But it's also one accident away from being almost certainly wrapped up! Vettel likely qualifying up front should leave him out of landing space for Maldonado/Grosjean.
I doubt they would have lost 7 tenths in a week.... I could see Hamilton finishing in front of Alonso though. 3rd spot easy. If vettel wins and Alonso manages only 4th Vettel has one free DNF...!
