Track Torque: Decision time in the desert
Rod Kinsey previews the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
LEWIS Hamilton already has three world championships under his belt. Nico Rosberg has none but leads this year by 12 points as we enter the last race.
He needs to finish third to be world champion. What a big decision to make in the desert… and what strategy will each driver adopt?
It really is either man’s race as they are so close to each other on performance.
Let the best man win on Sunday. Although I have great admiration for Hamilton’s driving ability I would like Rosberg to take a maiden title.
Mercedes go to the Yas Marina track as favourites for a 1-2 but this could easily be upset by either driver at Red Bull, especially the young bloodhound who is brimful of confidence, Max Verstappen.
Daniel Ricciardo is also capable of some magic as the car has been getting better all year.
Otherwise only Ferrari is likely to be a threat. You never know until the race is on in F1, what the permutations are going to be but at least here in the desert, rain can be counted out.
As it is the last race of the season and the world championship is at stake there will be a very festive atmosphere at the event and a huge party afterwards.
It is the end of the current turbocharged formula with a lot of changes coming next year in the engine department as well as tyre dimensional changes that are going to make the cars a lot faster.
This means everyone will be giving it a full go with current machinery (no preservation for later in the season required) so we can expect a lot of good racing and hopefully some pleasant surprises.
The finishing order of each team in the manufacturers’ championship determines the pay-out they get from the money master Bernie Ecclestone so this is an added incentive to do well at the last race, round 21.
The find of the year has definitely been Verstappen and the 19 year old will go into 2017 with great experience and success already behind him for even better performances in the future.
Everyone of course hopes that the big technical changes that are coming through next year will even up the playing fields with no one team being out on its own.
In the meantime let’s concentrate on this weekend. It should be a humdinger race with an exciting result for both the race and the World Championship!
Qualifying time on Saturday is 14:50 and the finale race will take place on Sunday starting at 15:00!
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