2016 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX

 

2016 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX

 It’s the final Formula 1 race of the 2016 season, it’s a beautiful day in Abu Dhabi and the drivers are all at the Yas Marina Circuit, getting ready for one of the most anticipated races this season.

It’s the World Championship decider, who’s going to win the battle? Rosberg or Hamilton?

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Driver Track Parade

Lewis Hamilton – “The support is incredible. A lot of British flags are here today and the support is incredible. It’s all about understanding your strategy. There’s so much that can happen in this race and the focus is on the win.“

“I felt amazing when I woke up this morning, sometimes I’ve won when I felt bad, sometimes I’ve won when I feel good. I’m just feeling really blessed to be here fighting for my family, for Aki and for the win.“

Rosberg – “I’m trying to keep it business as usual. I’m feeling very good so far. The car is fast and it really is a great day. It’s going to be exciting for sure. It’s been a good season which I’m proud of for now.“

Verstappen – “Hopefully Lewis isn’t too quick at the start so he can keep the pack together. It will be a bit more difficult today and hopefully like I said, a clean start, a clean race and it should be good.“

 Toto Wolff – “There’s a lot of tension here today. It’s about the World Champion and crowing a new or old World Champion. We have spoken this morning about the race with both drivers. We don’t want to have any technical problems and we want them to have a clean race.“

Ricciardo – “We spoke to the car yesterday and prepared it for the race win today. She got a bit scared and wet herself but she’s good today. (laughs) – It’s going to be close, the grip on the start line is high, as long as you get away clean it’s fine.“

“I’ve just got to focus on a good start and I think I’ll be chasing people down. I think we can have a good race and make it more than a two-way fight.“

Button – “It’s amazing, to be fair this feels as good as winning the world championship. It’s pretty emotional and the problem is, I have to go and race now. I’ll try my best, hopefully it will be a good race. I’m just happy with the support that I’ve had from the team and hopefully I can take some of you with me to a new Formula.“

 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Before The Race – Pit Walk

Ricciardo – “I have the best seat in the house (P3) hopefully I can get a good start and just be there in the race and give the guys (Hamilton & Rosberg) something to think about.“

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – LIVE 

All drivers are now on-track, getting ready for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The sun has just started to set over the Yas Marina circuit.

Drivers are now on their formation lap for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Lap 1

Hamilton in the lead, Rosberg right behind in second place. Raikkonen up into 3rd place followed by Ricciardo who loses a place.

Lap 2

A battle between the two Force India’s – Magnussen pits, he came into contact with someone.

Verstappen ran into the back of another car – he’s at the back of the grid.

Ferrari (Raikkonen) right behind Rosberg, surprisingly close. The Ferrari’s are looking quite strong in the opening laps of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Lap 3

DRS has now been enabled.

Verstappen is now making his way through the grid – making his way past Grosjean.

Bottas makes his way past Felipe Massa – little battles going on everywhere.

Lap 4

Hamilton now sets the fastest lap time – Raikkonen right behind Rosberg.

Lap 5

Another fastest lap from Lewis Hamilton – Rosberg keeping out of the threat of DRS from Raikkonen.

Verstappen now makes his way past Kvyat – he’s making his way through the grid and is up into 13th place.

Team to Magnussen – “We have to retire the car Kev.”

Lap 6

Bottas saying the car isn’t feeling as comfortable.

Team to Bottas – “Bring the car back to the garage, we’ll have a look at it – we won’t retire.”

Lap 7

Hamilton leads the race, Rosberg in second and Raikkonen in third.

Verstappen is slowly but surely making his way through the grid.

Team to Hamilton – “Lewis – Box, box – Box, box“

He comes into the pits now – he’s going onto the soft tyre.

Raikkonen comes into the pits too.

Alonso comes into the pits.

Hamilton had a slow pit stop being held up by Raikkonen.

Lap 8 

Rosberg being told to “Box“

Verstappen right behind Hamilton after his pit-stop.

Rosberg comes into the pits now – he’s held up by Ferrari with Vettel coming into the pits.

Lap 9

Rosberg just got out ahead of Raikkonen but is now behind Verstappen.

Raikkonen right behind Rosberg – very, very close.

Ricciardo sets the fastest lap time.

Bottas out of the race.

Lap 10

Ricciardo now pits.

Team to Rosberg – “They’re purposely making Verstappen slow so you need to get past him.“

Ricciardo is now behind Raikkonen – trying to make his way past.

Verstappen keeping his place in front of Rosberg – he hasn’t pit yet.

Lap 11 

Team to Rosberg – “Don’t take any risks with Verstappen.“

Rosberg still behind Verstappen, he looks like he’s getting frustrated.

Lap 12

 Team to Rosberg – “Watch the right front tyre, the right front tyre.”

Lap 13

Jenson Button’s front right wheel has gone.

Button -“Something wrong with the steering guys. I think we’re out.”

He comes into the pits and gets a standing ovation from the crowd.

Lap 15

Team to Verstappen – “This is all you need. As you are.“

Lap 16

Kvyat has a problem, he slowed down and pulled up to the side.

DRS disabled.

Lap 17

DRS Enabled.

Alonso makes his way past Grosjean and is up into 10th place.

Team to Hamilton – “Be careful you don’t grain the tyres.”

Lap 19

Ricciardo made his way past Raikkonen however he went wide off-track and is right behind Raikkonen again.

Vettel has now caught up Ricciardo and Raikkonen.

Lap 21

Rosberg makes his way past Verstappen – a battle between the two, they come very close together but keep to the limits. Rosberg now leads and is up into 2nd place.

Lap 22

 Verstappen now comes into the pits – he’s on the soft tyres.

Team to Rosberg – “Ok Nico, the next few laps are critical – we think Verstappen is going to the end on these tyres.“

Lap 24

Nico Rosberg setting the fastest lap time – he’s in second place and closing the gap to his team-mate.

After the radio message warning him about Verstappen, Rosberg is putting his foot down.

Lap 25 

Ricciardo comes into the pits – Ferrari are now under pressure following the RedBull’s pit stop.

Verstappen up into 7th place.

Lap 26

Raikkonen now comes into the pits he has a new set of soft compound tyres.

Lap 27

Vettel up into 3rd place.

Ricciardo is up int 5th place after making his way past Perez.

Lap 28

Perez comes into the pits.

Verstappen now sets a fastest lap time.

Hamilton being told “Box, box“

Lap 29

Rosberg now being told to “Box, Box, Box“

 Lap 34

Hamilton behind Vettel – being questioned by his team “Why are you so slow behind Vettel“

Rosberg in 3rd.

Lap 39

Hamilton leads the race with Rosberg right behind and Verstappen in third. Ricciardo in fourth.

Raikkonen in 5th and Vettel in 6th.

The battle is still ongoing between the two (Hamilton & Rosberg) – Vettel now sets a fastest lap time.

Lap 41

 Vettel now makes his way past his team-mate Raikkonen. He’s got great grip after his pit-stop and is catching up to Ricciardo.

Lap 42 

Hamilton – “You need to give me the times of other cars now, please.“

Verstappen making his way past back-markers.

Ricciardo behind the back markers with Vettel catching up and setting fastest lap times.

Lap 43

Sainz and Palmer go off-track.

The Ferrari’s have picked up a lot of pace – especially Vettel after his last pit-stop.

Mercedes need to think about their strategy at the moment, Vettel is putting the pressure on the Mercedes team.

After his contact with Palmer, Sainz is going very slow round the track, reporting a problem with his gearbox – this will be the second Toro Rosso out of the race.

Sainz – “My gearbox is not working, I will have to retire the car.“

Lap 44

 Team to Hamilton – “You really need to pick up the pace, Vettel is an imminent threat.“

 Lap 45

Vettel is finding pace – Hamilton checking his mirrors, Rosberg right behind.

Lap 46

Vettel makes his way past Ricciardo.

He’s cleared the first of two RedBull’s.

Lap 48

Team to Verstappen – “Keep pushing”

Rosberg is under pressure from Verstappen but Rosberg is also close to Hamilton.

Lap 50

 Hamilton still leading the race.

Rosberg in second place.

Vettel very, very close to Verstappen.

Lap 51

5 laps remaining.

Rosberg saying – “Do something” on the team radio.

Vettel makes his way past Verstappen.

He’s on a roll.

Lap 52

Paddy Lowe now telling Hamilton “This is an instruction, we need you to pick up the pace to win this race.“

Vettel up into third place.

Lap 53

3 Laps remaining.

Vettel catching up to Rosberg.

Hamilton leading the race.

 Lap 55

Final Lap

Team to Rosberg – “You only need P3.“

Lewis Hamilton wins the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix but Nico Rosberg wins the World Championship.

 All the reaction to follow.

The Formula 1 Girl 🙂

xx