2023 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX

[Big Kev]

2023 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX



Yas Marina Circuit
Lap data
Lap length 5.554km (3.451 miles)
Race laps 55
Race distance 305.355km (189.739 miles)
Pole position Right-hand side of the track
Lap record* 1’40.279 (Sebastian Vettel, 2009)
Fastest lap 1’34.779 (Lewis Hamilton, 2019, qualifying three)
Maximum speed 339kph (210.645 mph)
Distance from grid to turn one 305m
Full throttle 63%
Longest flat-out section 1233m
Downforce level High
Gear changes per lap 56
Fuel use per lap 1.82kg
Time penalty per lap of fuel

UK Times
Friday 24th November 2023
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Free Practice 1: 13:30-14:30 (UK time: 9:30-10:30)
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Free Practice 2: 17:00-18:00 (UK time: 13:00-14:00)
Saturday 25th November 2023
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Free Practice 3: 14:30-15:30 (UK time: 10:30-11:30)
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Qualifying: 18:00 (UK time: 14:00)
Sunday 26th November 2023
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: 17:00 (UK time: 13:00)

Previous Winners
2009 Germany Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault
2010 Germany Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault
2011 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
2012 Finland Kimi Räikkönen Lotus-Renault
2013 Germany Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault
2014 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
2015 Germany Nico Rosberg Mercedes
2016 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
2017 Finland Valtteri Bottas Mercedes
2018 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
2019 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
2020 Netherlands Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing-Honda
2021 Netherlands Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing-Honda
2022 Netherlands Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing-RBPT


Videos

Rosberg 2014


Standings

[Big Kev]

Still plenty in the drivers and constructors ranks to play for.

[Big Kev]

Yet another special livery from McLaren

[Big Kev]

Without Max, Perez would have won 4 (and the 2 he did win for 6) races, Hamilton 3, Alonso 3, Leclerc 3, Norris 6, Piastri 1, Sainz 1

What a championship that would have been!

[Big Kev]

Actually someone worked it out (prior to this race)

1 Sergio Perez 337
2 Lewis Hamilton 294
3 Fernando Alonso 261
4 Lando Norris 258
5 Carlos Sainz 243
6 Charles Leclerc 236
7 George Russell 202
8 Oscar Piastri 117
9 Lance Stroll 99
10 Pierre Gasly 88

[nutty]

Not really susprised about that, I do always take those without a driver race results with a grain of salt as im sure with no max there would have been different strategys ect that changed a lot of races.

Overall another year is done the year had some good races, but a bunch of snoozers. In the end you can look at at a race like this, it doesnt matter how much overtaking there is throughout the field I think unless theirs overtakes for the lead its never going to be super exciting.

Kudos has to go to Max, its clear that without doubt he is a all time talent at the peak of his powers, the Red Bull is a great racecar but I can't help but think there wouldnt be many drivers all time who could have a season like that with that car.

[Big Kev]

[Big Kev]

The final reckoning

[Big Kev]

So that overspend fine really hurt Red Bull then eh.

Apart from Max walking away with it there have been some decent stories down the grid. The revival of Alonso, McLaren having a really strong finish, Pleased for Albon getting some good results for Williams.

Ferrari messed up a few strategy calls as usual. Hamilton moaned despite finishing 3rd in the championship ffs! Be interesting to see if they design next years car more to his spec.

Haas look in a bit of a mess. 9th, 9th, 10th, 8th and 10th. You have to wonder if Gunther might get the elbow next season. They changed the car mid season with a new philosophy and that didn't work either.

Alpha Tauri look like becoming the Racing Bulls from next year. DannyRic and Tsunoda have done ok in that car but if it takes the concept from this years RBR it could be a bit more handy next year.

Alfa Romeo look a bit lost. They'll need the Audi expertise pretty quickly.
And Alpine are there or there abouts. Keep forgetting about them and Alfa to be honest!


If you'd like me to carry on with the topics next year I'm happy to unless someone else wants to give me a break

[norbs]

Kev, I am sure I speak for the dozen or so that check these, we love your work. But, if it is a burden, dont worry. We can just chat in the general F1 chat each race. If you dont mind, carry on.

[durbster]

What norbs said.

[Big Kev]

It's ok, I can knock the topics up in 5-10mins as I know where to get the info.

[nutty]

Thanks, I do enjoy it

[Big Kev]

Blimey

Laps led in 2023:

Verstappen - 1,003
Perez - 146
Sainz - 77
Leclerc - 41
Norris - 30
Hamilton - 13
Russell - 6
Tsunoda - 5
Alonso - 3
Piastri - 1

[StanDaam]

I don't post much but I enjoy your F1 threads Kev!

[Big Kev]

How about a bit of end of season debate then (largely nicked from the SkyF1 podcast)....

Who is your driver of the year (excluding Max )?
Team of the year?
Most disappointing driver?
Most disappointing team?
Race of the year?

[norbs]

Piastri, I think he did well above expectations.
Hard to go past RB, but McLaren seemed to be coming good.
Checco. No where near Max.
Haas, seem to be going nowhere.
Singapore. Watching Sainz drag Noris along to help him stay clear of the 2 Mercs.

[Big Kev]

I should at least answer my own question

Who is your driver of the year (excluding Max )?
Albon, with Piastri a close second. I think Albon has really dragged that Williams up the grid far more than it might deserve and he obliterated his team mate in qualifying. Piastri has been impressive too. Not phased by Norris and even won a sprint race. Honourable mention to Liam Lawson stepping in with zero notice in a wet race and getting some very creditable results from his 4-5 races. I hope someone takes him on.

Team of the year?
Red Bull aside, I'd give it to McLaren. Started the year with a dog of a car barely getting out of Q1 and then finished it with a string of podiums and a sprint win. Amazing turn around.

Most disappointing driver?
Close between Perez and Stroll. Perez just wasn't able to adapt his style to that car, qualified really poorly a lot of the time and was lucky enough to have a fast car to get back in the points with. Still not quite sure how he ended up 2nd in the championship! Stroll was thumped by an old man

Most disappointing team?
Got to be Haas. They just haven't moved forwards. Could be time up for Gunther there.

Race of the year?
Las Vegas. Not all the nonsense before and after with celebs and terrible glitzy stuff that no one liked except them, but the race itself was great. Genuine fights for the lead and Leclerc catching Perez sleeping on the last lap to snatch 2nd. Great stuff.
And Lando leading at Silverstone.

[nutty]

Who is your driver of the year (excluding Max )?
For me its Fernando or Albon. Albon for all the reasons that Kev said, but lets face it Fernando showed he still has it.. 8 podiums is impressive.

Team of the year?
Im torn here, I think Ill go with Aston, I know they had a poor run towards the end of the year, but their year on year turnaround is amazing.

Most disappointing driver?
Perez. What was it he averaged P10 in qualifying for the last 5 races of the season.. in the best car
Shoutout to KMag who got smashed by Hulk all year in qualifying and was p nowhere in races

Most disappointing team?
Hass.. as mentioned by Kev things have to change

Race of the year?
Vegas, I expected so little and was super impressed