[Official] F1 2009 Round 17 - Eithad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina

[Burnsie]

Hi folks. It's been ages since I've done one of these introduction threads, so apologies if it's rubbish. But in my defence, obviously there aren't many statistics since it's a new Grand Prix! I hope I'm not rocking anybody's boat by creating this thread, but I didn't see one so I thought I'd lend a hand. Anyway, moving on...

Both championships may have already been decided, but there is still plenty at stake as the 2009 Formula One season reaches its climax at the new Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Rubens Barrichello and Sebastian Vettel are separated by only two points in the battle for second place in the Drivers Championship, while in the Constructors Championship McLaren and Ferrari have just one point between them in the battle for third.

Even before the cars started arriving in Abu Dhabi, the venue has received mixed opinons; mainly concering the limited run-off areas, the starting time, and of course the increasingly infamous pit lane exit tunnel. With only a few hours of practice at this new venue between now and Qualifying, how will the grid shape up for F1's first ever twilight race? The action gets underway at 5:00pm local time on Sunday.

Once again Toyota are without Timo Glock, so following his slightly controversial debut in Brazil, Kamui Kobayashi fills the vacant seat.

Finally, I think I should give an honourable mention to Giancarlo Fisichella. After thirteen seasons and three race victories in Formula One, it seems likely that this will be his final Grand Prix. Good luck Giancarlo!

Formula One 2009 - Round 17 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina Circuit

F1 World Drivers Championship Standings

Pos.	Driver	Andy Blackmore Image	Constructor	Points
1.	Jenson Button		Brawn Mercedes	89
2.	Sebastian Vettel		Red Bull Renault	74
3.	Rubens Barrichello		Brawn Mercedes	72
4.	Mark Webber		Red Bull Renault	61½
5.	Lewis Hamilton		McLaren Mercedes	49
6.	Kimi Raikkonen		Ferrari	48
7.	Nico Rosberg		Williams Toyota	34½
8.	Jarno Trulli		Toyota	30½
9.	Fernando Alonso		Renault	26
10.	Timo Glock		Toyota	24
11.	Felipé Massa		Ferrari	22
=	Heikki Kovalainen		McLaren Mercedes	22
13.	Robert Kubica		BMW Sauber	17
14.	Nick Heidfeld		BMW Sauber	15
15.	Giancarlo Fisichella		Ferrari / Force India Mercedes	8
16.	Adrian Sutil		Force India Mercedes	5
=	Sébastien Buemi		Toro Rosso Ferrari	5
18.	Sébastien Bourdais		Toro Rosso Ferrari	2

Formula 1 World Constructors Championship Standings

Pos.	Constructor	Points
1.	Brawn Mercedes	161
2.	Red Bull Renault	136½
3.	McLaren Mercedes	71
4.	Ferrari	70
5.	Toyota	54½
6.	Williams Toyota	34½
7.	BMW Sauber	32
8.	Renault	26
9.	Force India Mercedes	13
10.	Toro Rosso Ferrari	7

Yas Marina Circuit

Map	Length	Direction	Turns	Laps	Lap Record
	5.554km (3.451 miles)	Anti-Clockwise	21	55	N/A

External Links

• Local clock and weather
• F1.com Preview
• Circuit Diagram
• Live Timing

Internal Links

• Ten-Tenths IRC Chat
• Predictions
  
• Fantasy F1 Entries & Standings

Enjoy the last Grand Prix of the season everyone!

Paul

[Burnsie]

For BBC viewers and listeners, here are the scheduled television, interactive and radio times for the race weekend (times are in GMT)...

BBC Television Schedule

Date	Time	Session/Programme	Channel
Friday 30th October	1845 - 1900	Inside F1
Saturday 31st October	1210 - 1410	Qualifying
Sunday 1st November	1210 - 1515	Race
	1900 - 2000	Race Highlights
Monday 2nd November	0305 - 0405	Race Highlights (R)

BBC Red Button Schedule

Date	Time	Session/Programme	Channel
Friday 30th October	0855 - 1035	Free Practice 1
	1255 - 1435	Free Practice 2
Saturday 31st October	0955 - 1105	Free Practice 3
	1210 - 1410	Qualifying
Sunday 1st November	1210 - 1515	Race
	1515 - 1615	Interactive Forum

(Not all programmes are available on Freeview)


BBC Radio Schedule

Date	Time	Session/Programme	Station
Friday 30th October	0855 - 1035	Free Practice 1
	1255 - 1435	Free Practice 2
	2100 - 2130	Grand Prix Preview
Saturday 31st October	0955 - 1105	Free Practice 3
	1255 - 1405	Qualifying
Sunday 1st November	1300 - 1600	Race

BLUE = Radio 5 Live / GREEN = Radio 5 Live Sports Extra


NB: Don't take all of this as being 100% correct! I did my best to ensure its accuracy, but the times are subject to change, and I am subject to making mistakes

[Lotusonpole]

Hi Burnsie
no it's not rubbish. Great job. Thanks for doing it.

Well...the last GP of the season is upon us. Where has all the year gone?
It seems like only a few weeks ago everyone was looking forward to the first 2009 GP. Time has gone so quickly.

Overall I have enjoyed this year and I'm looking forward to Abi Dhabi.


Cheers
Peter

[skells22]

it is also bye BMW this weekend

[Super Hans]

Thanks Burnsie.

I'm looking forward to seeing the new track in-action. The pit exit reminds me of a multi-storey car park. Or Sooty's bedroom.

[Piglet]

...and don't forget the circuit is partially manned by British marshals - so it's nearly "our" GP! (it may of course be the nearest we get to another GP for a while.....)

[strider]

Originally Posted by Piglet

...and don't forget the circuit is partially manned by British marshals - so it's nearly "our" GP! (it may of course be the nearest we get to another GP for a while.....)

Stop being negative, Piglet, that's not like you at all.

[Piglet]

Originally Posted by strider

Stop being negative, Piglet, that's not like you at all.

Sorry, I probably forgot the

[Cougar]

Any update from the marshals in the tunnel? Do they feel at all safe with the flimsy looking fence protecting them? Or is it quite substantial?

[Burnsie]

With over 70 minutes remaining in FP2 the sky still looks very bright, although Maurice Hamilton says that the circuit will be in total darkness by the end of the session. The light must fade very quickly...

[jab]

Great preview

Loving the circuit. Just looks out of this world. Takes some aspects from all different types of circuits, and the buildings are incredible

Kobayashi's driving well too. Currently P3

[richie_h]

the track looked a little dull during the day but now its dark it has come alive

Lewis is flying too which is a bonus, I can see a british 1-2 on sunday!

[Jamesy-18]

I have to say after seeing the practice sessions, I'm not convinced on this track. Sure it looks good from the outside, but I personally can't see much action come race-day. I think it's been overtalked personally and would much rather have seen Interlagos as the final race as that place CAN and does put on a race every year.

But anyway, I think qualifying should be close again between McLaren, Red Bull and Brawn with perhaps an outsider in the form of a BMW or Toyota to be up there, Force India could be solid too.

I'm sure the likes of Raikkonen, Alonso and Rosberg will want to put on good performances for the last races for their respective teams, and of course, everybody else wanting to win the last race of 2009.

On paper it looks to be good and I'm sure it would be if it was elsewhere. Personally I don't understand why we are going to places like this when the traditional places that put on good races get left off the calendar. But that rant is for another topic!

[strider]

Originally Posted by Jamesy-18

I have to say after seeing the practice sessions, I'm not convinced on this track. Sure it looks good from the outside, but I personally can't see much action come race-day. I think it's been overtalked personally and would much rather have seen Interlagos as the final race as that place CAN and does put on a race every year.

But anyway, I think qualifying should be close again between McLaren, Red Bull and Brawn with perhaps an outsider in the form of a BMW or Toyota to be up there, Force India could be solid too.

I'm sure the likes of Raikkonen, Alonso and Rosberg will want to put on good performances for the last races for their respective teams, and of course, everybody else wanting to win the last race of 2009.

On paper it looks to be good and I'm sure it would be if it was elsewhere. Personally I don't understand why we are going to places like this when the traditional places that put on good races get left off the calendar. But that rant is for another topic!

I agree with all of that, which is why I am glad that the title was decided at Interlagos, which is a great circuit.

That's the difference, really, You either have Interlagos, where the facilities are by all accounts pretty abysmal, or you have Yas Marina, where the facilities are admittedly out of this world and set a new high, but with a circuit that's a typical, nothing special Herman Tilke design.

[djb]

gotta be a bit impressed with the young Japanese fellow, yes it is friday practice, but despite the complaints Button made, today and his driving at Brazil certainly do show that he is not like a fish out of water in a F1 car, pretty darn impressive--even taking into account the usual friday sessions times that dont tend to keep on as the weekend goes on (numerous other mid field cars throughout the year, or years past generally)
will be watching to see how quali goes etc. Nice to see a newcomer do well thats all.

[Marbot]

hmmm...Koby and Kovy at Toyota anyone?

Track seems to be more interesting than was first thought.

Great intro Burnsie.

Interesting fact number 235765

Apparently most of the Grandstand seating areas at the track are air-conditioned! A 'world first'.

[Bononi]

Thanks Burnsie, nice job !

[Burnsie]

You're very welcome everyone, thanks for all the compliments!

[dtype38]

Originally Posted by Marbot

Interesting fact number 235765 Apparently most of the Grandstand seating areas at the track are air-conditioned! A 'world first'.

And probably like a lot of large facilities in the middle east, it'll be a "total loss" system. I.e. use megawatts of power to cool the air, blow it over the crowd and then just let it drift away into the hot desert air. If you thought F1 had dubious green credentials already, then try airconditioning a desert at the same time. As for the track itself... one, possibly two, overtaking places on smooth flat tarmac, with smooth flat tarmac run-offs. When the most notable feature of a race circuit is it's pit lane exit, that'll be a Tilke circuit. In spite of all that, though, I'm hoping for a great race and the real possiblity of a British 1-2. Bring it on

Oh, and great job on the intro Burnsie.

[Oldtony]

One of the overtaking problems that this facility really highlights is the no grip off the rubbered line syndrome.
If ther was an eve level of grip across the entire width of the circuit the amount of tarmac available at Abu Dhabi would provide a lot of overtaking. Of course once a line gets rubbered in that becomes the only fast line and the rest of the circuit is wasted space. That is highlighted by the blown sand and the new unscrubbed surface.
That of course is the problem with most of the Tilke circuits and a lot of the others.

[djb]

while this is a problem with most tracks I imagine, the fine particles in the air must make this a much more prevelent issue here.

[JeremySmith]

The facility is SIMPLY stunning, come on admit it...

Can you replicate this in England? no you can not, so stop moaning and groaning and except defeat...

[Oldtony]

Right Jeremey. Simply stunning and a tribute to them.
Doubt if it will be matched anywhere in the world in the near future.
Loved the skipper of the liner watching FP1 from the bridge.

[Peter Mallett]

Frankly I'm not sure you could for many reasons, not least the topography of the land. As with most areas in this part of the world it is pretty flat, indeed this one is (I think) on reclaimed land. Another point may be the demographic. Most race fans in Europe are happy to wander around for most of the weekend and only need a seat for the race. Out here it is the oposite.

From the TV the facilities are certainly stunning and although I've not seen it in the flesh it seems to be a notch up on Bahrain which set the benchmark for Mid East circuits.

It also makes Lossail, here in Qatar a bit second hand.

Hope the race is a good one.

[Super Hans]

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

The facility is SIMPLY stunning, come on admit it...

It is genuinely jaw-dropping.

It feels like I'm watching a space Grand Prix from the future.