Abu Dhabi: post-race analysis 2016
A tense race from start
to finish, with the drama ramping up towards the end. Betting-wise,
it was green, which is a nice way to end a very peculiar season (but
I’ll blather about that in the season review). The race was
characterised by three things: great drives from Verstappen and
Vettel due to varying strategy, and Hamilton backing up Rosberg.
Off the line it was
fairly straightforward, excepting that Raikkonen got the jump on
Ricciardo. However, Verstappen had a slightly slow start (Red Bull
perhaps compromised more than expected by starting on the supersoft
when surrounded by ultrasoft-starters?) and was spun when he struck
Hulkenberg slightly. At the end of lap 1, Verstappen was last.
Ahead, the Mercedes
were a bit faster but not scampering away, and the Ferraris and
Ricciardo were evenly matched. Verstappen set about cutting his way
through the field.
After the first pit
stops (two planned), Hamilton led, Verstappen (who alone had not
pitted) was next, then Rosberg, who emerged just behind the Dutchman.
Verstappen was going long on his supersofts, trying to eke out a
single stop, contrary to all others. Rosberg struggled to pass him,
particularly as the German could not afford to compromise his result.
Suddenly, Rosberg made
a late lunge. Verstappen had left the door wide open then tried
closing it. The two cars very nearly touched, but Rosberg got ahead
with a daring overtake. Shortly thereafter, Verstappen pitted.
After the second (or
only, in Verstappen’s case) round of pit stops Vettel, who was on a
two stop but had yet to come in, led Hamilton, with Rosberg and
Verstappen next. Ricciardo and Raikkonen were further back.
Vettel pitted and
emerged with brand new supersoft tyres. He was over a second a lap
faster than those around him, quickly catching and passing (with zero
resistance) his team mate before reaching Ricciardo.
Mercedes were aware to
the danger and alerted Hamilton, asking him to drive more quickly.
The Briton developed selective deafness.
Hamilton was being
deliberately slow in the twisting part of the circuit to back Rosberg
towards Verstappen (and Vettel, who soon passed Ricciardo). He was
given an instruction from Paddy Lowe (effectively co-team principal)
to drive more quickly and refused.
Verstappen was being
forced to up his pace to try and keep 3rd, but to no
avail. Vettel pounced and snaffled the final podium spot, then close
up on Rosberg. The top four were all covered by a few seconds.
Rosberg bore the
stress. He kept 2nd, seeing off a final lap attempt by
Vettel take the place, and winning his first constructor’s title.
Hamilton won the race, and lost the title.
Verstappen and
Ricciardo were 4th and 5th. After a strong
early stint, poor strategy helped put Raikkonen down in 6th.
Hulkenberg and Perez finished where they started, 7th and
8th respectively (having a bit of a mid-race ding dong,
but it was all clean driving).
Massa scored in his
last race, grabbing 2 points for 9th. Alonso got the last
point. On this occasion, Massa was faster than him.
The two Haas cars just
missed out on points, and just behind them were both Manors.
Interestingly, the Saubers and Palmer’s Renault [Magnussen retired]
were slower.
Button also had his
last race and suffered a wishbone failure after a kerb took exception
to being driven over, but he remained in good cheer. Both Toro Rossos
and Bottas also retired.
So, by 5 points Rosberg
is world champion. Within minutes of the result the BBC had a
charming page up asking if he deserved it. Had Hamilton suffered a
technical failure in 2014’s race instead of his team mate, Rosberg would’ve been world
champion then. Didn’t see the same question being asked of Hamilton
at the time…
Force India claimed 4th
in the Constructors’, their best ever finish. The cash injection
will be welcome for the team next year. They lose Hulkenberg and gain
Ocon, retaining the services of Perez.
The No Safety Car bet
came off. Short odds, but longer than they should’ve been. The
advantage of varying strategy worked for both Vettel and Verstappen,
so I wonder if we’ll see more of that next year rather than a two
stop approach for the vast majority.
Will Hamilton’s
behaviour has damaged his standing either with the team (for
repeatedly refusing to obey an instruction) or with the public as a
‘racer’ who deliberately went slowly? His hero, Senna, rammed
Prost off the track once to take a title (the reverse also
occurring), and that’s clearly worse. Schumacher’s renowned for
his on-track shenanigans.
Opinion is divided.
Some online have criticised him for trying to make someone else lose,
others saying it was fair enough trying to keep the title.
I’m glad Rosberg got
the title. A bit of variety instead of the same chap always winning
is a good thing.
Next year the
regulations change a lot. The biggest potential beneficiaries are
probably Red Bull and McLaren. The former will have (I think) Adrian
Newey, back from his yachting adventures. The latter has
Prodromou[sp], formerly Newey’s aerodynamics lieutenant, and with
development restrictions lifted for engines Honda *may* be able to
make a great leap forward.
I’ll witter more
about such things nearer the time, and after testing. In a few days
or a couple of weeks I’ll write the post-season review (which will
be interesting as it’s both my best and worst ever season).
Morris Dancer
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