2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Oct 30 - Nov 1)

[Wouter Melissen]

I know it's a little early for this thread but here is a clip of Bruno Senna doing some laps on the new track in a GP2 two-seater car. Note the weird pit-lane exit. That may lead to some interesting incidents!

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikvjwBEYk50"]YouTube - First F1 laps of Yas Marina[/ame]

[lightweight]

Abu Dhabi F1 track video lap | Yas Island onboard video | F1 Fanatic - The Formula 1 Blog

A couple of things strike you from watching the video:

First, the underground pit lane exit is narrow, but it looks like there’s enough room for one car to get past another if it becomes stuck.

But they’re going to spend along time on the pit lane speed limiter there, which will discourage drivers from strategies that involve lots of pit stops.

The opening sequence of bends (which were originally dubed a ‘reverse Eau Rouge’) don’t look anything like as quick and as challenging as we first thought.

At around 1′24 we get a good view of what the run-off area beneath the stadium looks like. This is an interesting innovation which will hopefully allow spectators to sit closer to the track without compromising safety.

It raises the question of what would happen if a car were airborne at the point where it goes off the track – presumably that risk has been assessed and deemed acceptable.

The entry to the left-right-left chicane at around 1′43 has a very flat kerb on the right which blends with an additional piece of track. We could see drivers getting into trouble for using too much of the entry kerb.

A few more comments made by F1Fanatic.co.uk

[LeonOfTheDead]

Note the weird pit-lane exit. That may lead to some interesting incidents!

That, and the sand as well.

Who designed it? It's basically made out of 90° corners.
There are so many buildings on the sides and other portions of tarmac for different layouts I didn't even understand he already did a full lap for a while.

[cmcpokey]

That, and the sand as well.

Who designed it? It's basically made out of 90° corners.
There are so many buildings on the sides and other portions of tarmac for different layouts I didn't even understand he already did a full lap for a while.

its another Hermann Tilke design, as every new track is. and it seems to follow his concept of a track design--start, stop, long straights, hard braking, sharp corners.

[LeonOfTheDead]

The Turkish track is probably the only he did right probably. Even the A1 in Austria isn't that bad.

[Ferrer]

The Turkish track is probably the only he did right probably. Even the A1 in Austria isn't that bad.

Compared to tracks like Monza, Spa-Francochamps or the original Hockeneim...

[cmcpokey]

turkey is great with the exception of the last set of corners, but the others are terrible. pretty, yes, but not great to drive or watch racing on

[MPME]

I think Tilke tried to create the first passing-proof circuit.

[henk4]

I think Tilke tried to create the first passing-proof circuit.

This at least will contribute to not confuse the professional audience that no doubt will be attending.

[Wouter Melissen]

Glock is not fit enough to race yet, so Kamui Kobayashi will race again for Toyota:

Panasonic Toyota Racing can confirm that Kamui Kobayashi will race for the team in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Kamui, 23, made his Grand Prix debut in Brazil, where he qualified 11th and finished ninth after a fighting performance.

He once again replaces Timo Glock, who suffered a cracked vertebra and cut leg in an accident during qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix earlier this month.

President John Howett said: "We feel genuinely sorry for Timo that his season, which has included two impressive podium finishes, is ending in this way. Having discussed the medical advice with Timo and his management, the team has decided to take no risk and to put Kamui in the car. Kamui performed well in Brazil in difficult circumstances so we are happy to ask him to once again deputise."

[Ferrer]

There's something that puzzles me.

Why have all the debutants (overall, in new cars, whatever) have been mostly pathetic and Kobayashi actually quite good? Is he very good?

[cmcpokey]

There's something that puzzles me.

Why have all the debutants (overall, in new cars, whatever) have been mostly pathetic and Kobayashi actually quite good? Is he very good?

i think it is still too early to tell. he has balls, thats for certain, but the only race we have seen him in was interlagos, which is a slightly odd track that requires lots of balls anyway. so im not sure how he would fare against a traditional track. i am excited to see him develop though, a japanese driver in a toyota would be a good thing.

[Wouter Melissen]

Practice 1 results:

Pos No Driver Team Time/Retired Gap Laps
1 1 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:43.939 18
2 22 Jenson Button Brawn-Mercedes 1:44.035 0.096 20
3 15 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 1:44.153 0.214 28
4 23 Rubens Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes 1:44.207 0.268 23
5 6 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 1:44.667 0.728 23
6 12 Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari 1:44.687 0.748 32
7 20 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:44.688 0.749 14
8 14 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 1:44.805 0.866 25
9 11 Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari 1:44.955 1.016 33
10 9 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:44.958 1.019 25
11 5 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 1:44.988 1.049 22
12 2 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 1:45.123 1.184 20
13 16 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:45.649 1.710 27
14 17 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1:45.679 1.740 25
15 4 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:45.704 1.765 27
16 7 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:45.865 1.926 23
17 21 Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 1:46.239 2.300 22
18 3 Giancarlo Fisichella Ferrari 1:46.267 2.328 26
19 10 Kamui Kobayashi Toyota 1:46.364 2.425 28
20 8 Romain Grosjean Renault 1:46.411 2.472 27

[LeonOfTheDead]

Fisichella is 18th, weird.

[Ferrer]

Fisichella is 18th, weird.

Weird? Why?