2017 F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Preview

 

 

After Sebastian Vettel scored his fifth victory of the season at F1’s penultimate round in Brazil and the Scuderia’s first since the Hungarian Grand Prix before the summer break, the final round of the 2017 FIA Formula 1 World Championship returns to the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates for the 2017 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. This will be the ninth edition of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the ninth time that event has been run as a World Championship round since the inaugural season in 1950.

 

A look at the Yas Marina Circuit

 

 

The Yas Marina Circuit is a permanent racing circuit located on the stunning Yas Island, 30 minutes away from the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi. The circuit was designed by German designer Hermann Tilke. It is the second purposely built circuit for Formula One in the Middle East with the first being in Bahrain. The circuit twists through Yas Island off the Abu Dhabi coastline passing by the marina and through the iconic five-star, 499 room Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi Hotel designed by New York -based architects Hani Rashid and Lise Anne Couture of Asymptote Architecture, and winds its way through sand dunes, with several long straights and tight corners. The uniquely scenic waterfront marina-based development includes water and theme parks as well as residential areas, hotels and beaches. The track has five grandstand areas (Main Grandstand, West Grandstand, North Grandstand, South Grandstand and Marina Grandstand (aka Support)) and part of the pit lane exit runs underneath the circuit. It also features a team building behind the pits, Media Centre, Dragster Track, VIP Tower and the Ferrari World Theme Park. The circuit also features a powerful lighting system which ensures the transition from day to night racing action.

 

The cars hit top speeds of 320 kph and average speeds of 195 kph. As well as the waterside marina area, there are high-speed sections (including the longest straight on the F1 calendar), tight corners for overtaking, and sector three which resembles part of a twisty-style street circuit. Overall, its diverse elements come together to create one of the most demanding and longest circuits in the world.

 

The Yas Marina Circuit is 5.554km (3.451 miles) in length with 21 corners and runs in an anti-clockwise direction.

 

Race distance is 305.355km (189.739 miles) in length with 55 laps in total.

 

Sebastian Vettel holds the fastest lap record at the Yas Marina Circuit with a 1:40.279 set in 2009 in his Red Bull Racing Renault RB5.

 

Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel both hold the record for most Abu Dhabi Grand Prix victories with three each respectively.

 

Mercedes and Red Bull Racing are the most successful constructors at the Yas Marina Circuit with three victories each respectively.

 

The Last Five Winners

 

 

2016: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1. 2015: Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG F1. 2014: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1. 2013: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing. 2012: Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus F1 Team.

 

 

Tyres

 

 

Pirelli will be bringing to the Yas Marina Circuit, the softest tyres in its range, purple-branded P-Zero Ultra Soft compounds, the red-marked P-Zero Super Soft tyres and the yellow-branded Soft rubber along with the green-branded Intermediate and blue-marked Full Wet tyre compounds in case of rain.

 

Ferrari, who won last round’s Brazilian Grand Prix with Sebastian Vettel, McLaren and Williams have all opted for 10 sets of Pirelli’s Ultra Soft tyre for their cars.

 

Red Bull Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo, Force India’s Sergio Pérez and Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson also have gone with 10 sets of the fastest rubber available, but their team-mates have all gone with a more conservative approach.

 

Championship winners Mercedes have nine sets of the ultra softs available for both of their drivers.

 

Lewis Hamilton will have two sets of the super-softs and softs while team-mate Valtteri Bottas has opted for three sets of the red-marked super-soft compounds and just one set of the softs.

 

Renault were the only team who opted for eight sets of ultra-softs, four sets of softs and one set of softs for both Nico Hulkenberg and Carlos Sainz.

 

DRS Zones

As in 2016, there will be two DRS Zones at the Yas Marina Circuit. The first detection point will be 40 metres after turn seven with the first activation zone 390 metres after turn seven. The second detection point will be 50 metres after turn nine with the second activation zone at turn 10.

 

Pitlane Speeds

Pitlane speed limits will be 80km/h during practice, qualifying and the race.

 

The Situation

 

 

Lewis Hamilton returns to Abu Dhabi with the World Driver’s Championship wrapped up and sits on top of the standings with 345 points and 43 clear of nearest rival Sebastian Vettel who second is on 302 points while Valtteri Bottas is a further 65 points behind Hamilton in third on 280 points.

 

Mercedes returns to the United Arab Emirates with the Constructors Championship secured and sits on top of the standings with 625 points and over 130 points clear of nearest rival Ferrari who are second on 495 points while Red Bull Racing are a further 265 points behind the Silver Arrows in third on 358 points.

 

2017 GP3 Champion George Russell and Antonio Giovinazzi will take part in the final Free Practice 1 session for the year at this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for Force India and Haas respectively.

 

This will be Formula 1’s last race with a fully open cockpit before the halo head protection device will be introduced for the 2018 season.

 

News going into the Weekend

• Scuderia Toro Rosso have confirmed that 2017 FIA World Endurance Champion and 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Brendon Hartley and 2016 GP2 Champion Pierre Gasly will continue to race for the Faenza-based squad for the 2018 season. “We’re really happy to have Pierre and Brendon confirmed so early by Red Bull as our drivers for 2018”, explained team principal Franz Tost. “During this last part of the year they’ve shown that they’re ready for Formula 1, getting to grips with the car quickly, showing good performances and always demonstrating to be prepared for the challenge.”

 

• McLaren’s Fernando Alonso delivered 113 laps during the FIA World Endurance Championship rookie test in Bahrain on Sunday as the Spaniard got to grips with the number 8 Toyota GAZOO Racing TS050 LMP1 Hybrid. “It was a great day,” Alonso explained. “Testing an LMP1 car is always a nice thing for any racing driver because these cars are amazing to drive. “They are very consistent throughout a stint which is a positive thing. I have wanted to test a car like this for a long time now and today I could achieve that so I am happy.”

 

• Romain Grosjean believes Haas has done “super well” in its second season in Formula 1, stating that the team has made more progression than its total points scored suggests. Haas debuted in 2016, with Grosjean scoring all of the team’s 29 points as they finished eighth in the Constructors Championship and replaced Esteban Gutierrez with Kevin Magnussen. Grosjean has almost equalled his 2016 tally, scoring 28 points while the American-based outfit was boosted by Magnussen lifting the team’s total to 47 points as the Frenchman praised Haas’ efforts. “There’s much more than points,” Grosjean explained when asked if the points gained this season reflected the team’s progress. “We’ve definitely made some good progress. We’re still behind what we could potentially do, that’s why the winter is going to be important for us to get everything ready for next season.” The Frenchman says that Haas will give it everything this weekend to jump its rivals in the Constructors standings. “We’re going to give it our all in Abu Dhabi and just play it like it’s the world championship.”

 

• Carlos Sainz says he is beginning to feel at home in his new surroundings at Renault following his move from Toro Rosso. Sainz, a long-time member of Red Bull’s junior academy, was promoted to the Faenza-based outfit in 2015 and moved to Renault on loan at the United States Grand Prix ahead of next season’s full-time role. Sainz scored points on his debut in Texas finishing seventh though the Spaniard retired in Mexico and finished outside the top 10 at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace. However, despite not scoring points in Brazil, Sainz was encouraged over his start to life at Enstone. “I left Brazil with a positive mindset as I’m starting to feel at home in the car and we head to Abu Dhabi with confidence and an aim for points,” Sainz said. It’s going to be a tight fight in the championship for sixth, but we are ready for the challenge. There’s been a lot to learn but I think we’ve been able to face the challenge in a positive manner. It’s been an education for me to come to a manufacturer team, and there’s been a lot to do because of joining mid-season. I’m still on a steep learning curve with the car so I hope for another step forward in Abu Dhabi.”

 

• Daniel Ricciardo believes Red Bull has a “decent chance” of taking victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as he looks to end the 2017 season on a high. Ricciardo sits fourth in the Driver’s Championship, scoring victory in Azerbaijan alongside eight podium finishes with the most recent in Japan. Ricciardo is positive that he can finish the season solidly, expecting the RB13 to be suited to the Yas Marina Circuit layout. “Yas Marina has actually been one of my favourite tracks over the years,” explained Ricciardo. “It’s been a bit like Suzuka for me though, a track that I’ve always enjoyed and gone well on but not quite reached the podium at. I broke that trend in Suzuka this year so hopefully I can do the same in Abu Dhabi. It’s a fun track to drive, I like the twilight thing and I guess because it’s the end of the season it’s even more enjoyable. We practice in the daylight but race at twilight which makes things more challenging. You generally don’t look too much into the sunlight sessions because in the evenings, when it counts, the track cools down and the car changes so much. I wouldn’t say they are wasted sessions but you do have to take them with a pinch of salt.” On his expectations in Abu Dhabi, Ricciardo said: “When you have so much time away from the car in the off season it helps to sign off with a strong result as it makes you feel like you really deserve a break. I think we should have a strong car in Abu Dhabi. I said I want another win before the season is out and I think we have a decent chance of achieving that.”

 

2017 World Drivers Championship Standings – Top 10

1. Lewis Hamilton – 345 Points
2. Sebastian Vettel – 302 Points
3. Valtteri Bottas – 280 Points
4. Daniel Ricciardo – 200 Points
5. Kimi Räikkönen – 193 Points
6. Max Verstappen – 158 Points
7. Sergio Pérez – 94 Points
8. Esteban Ocon – 83 Points
9. Carlos Sainz – 54 Points
10. Felipe Massa – 42 Points

 

2017 World Constructors Championship Standings

1. Mercedes AMG F1 – 625 Points
2. Scuderia Ferrari – 495 Points
3. Red Bull Racing – 358 Points
4. Force India F1 Team – 177 Points
5. Williams Martini Racing – 82 Points
6. Scuderia Toro Rosso – 53 Points
7. Renault Sport F1 – 49 Points
8. Haas F1 Team – 47 Points
9. McLaren-Honda F1 – 28 Points
10. Sauber F1 Team – 5 Points

 

The 2017 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend begins Friday November 24 with Free Practice 1 and 2, Free Practice 3 and Qualifying Saturday November 25 and the 55 lap Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Sunday November 26.