What did you think of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix? Rate the race out of ten and leave a comment below:
Rate the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix out of ten
- 10 (14%)
- 9 (11%)
- 8 (15%)
- 7 (18%)
- 6 (12%)
- 5 (8%)
- 4 (8%)
- 3 (5%)
- 2 (2%)
- 1 (6%)
Total Voters: 1,436
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1 = ‘Terrible’, 10 = ‘Perfect’
F1 Fanatic holds polls on each race to find out which fans thought were the best and worst races during a season. Please vote based on how entertaining and exciting you thought the race was, not on how your preferred driver or team performed.
See the results for past seasons here:
DavidS (@davids)
14th November 2010, 14:43
5/10
Boring race for one that promised so much.
Vettel pole to finish race, Webber/Alonso stuck in traffic, unable to make progress.
No real incidents, except for the Schumacher and Liuzzi crash which happened too early to make much difference.
dyslexicbunny
14th November 2010, 14:53
I agree. There was a ton of hype and build up for this race and it pretty much didn’t deliver. It was briefly exciting with the Renaults but once it was clear that neither Alonso or Hamilton could get past, it was just dull.
I strongly dislike Vettel but congrats to him. Considering the number of poles he had, he should have easily clinched already. And while I also really dislike Alonso, I thought he was the better driver until today.
(snide comment)If all it takes to be champion is starting ahead of everyone, perhaps I should just get into work early and be the best employee.
Fixy (@)
14th November 2010, 15:16
Same. No racing, only horrendous strategies once again by Domenicali.
Perf
14th November 2010, 15:35
@David S: “Schumacher and Liuzzi crash which happened too early to make much difference”
Depends how you look at this. I think that crash made all the difference: Petrov changed his tyres under the SC and only because of that he was able to hold Alonso behind him (otherwise he would have to pit). So, basically, Schumacher handed WDC to Baby Schumacher :)
Oliver
14th November 2010, 17:10
Had it not being the fact that the championship contenders were fighting to get out of position 11 and 12, it would have been just a procession, matter of fact it was. Any excitement was mind induced.
Oliver
14th November 2010, 17:13
I meant to say… Being that the championship contenders….
Luis
14th November 2010, 19:14
This pool had to be divided in two:
– Rate the race
– Rate this championships’ results
The race was probably the worst of all, with just a couple of overtakings in 90 minutes, strategic mistakes and frustration.
But Vettel making himself champion was brilliant.
Scribe (@scribe)
14th November 2010, 23:37
DavidS is bang on, even the stuff in the bottles was boring. Won by a qualifiying specialist in the fastest car, boring driver, nice chap though so congrats, he certainly deserves it, something like 80 points lost through mechanical faliures so, if anyone deserves this championship it’s him.
Jeez thank goodness we’re back in Brazil next year, what an awful track! How did they managed to build this monstrosity on so much money?
Gutted for Webber, poor man looked crushed, Hamilton could have been more gracefull in the top 3 reception, but thats the mindset I guess, puts how well Massa took it in perspective.
Anyway, boring race for a pretty fantastic season’s finale but as we’ve reached the end it all got rather tense so again I suppose it’s to be expected.
Thats about all, when drivers like Alonso and Hamilton are trapped in faster cars for an entire race it’s a rubbish track.
William Wilgus
15th November 2010, 3:42
The Schumi /Liuzzi crash made all the difference because of the Safety Car. Without the Safety Car, the race and championship results would have almost assuredly been different. They really, really need to change the Safety Car rules so that you’d don’t keep your position if you pit under the safety car—you keep the actual position in which you rejoined the race.
glue
14th November 2010, 14:44
Well, the huge WDC battle aside, if this race was in the mid-season, it would’ve made as much of an impression as Bahrain..given it 4 (and I am glad Alonso lost the championship)
Gerdoner
14th November 2010, 14:48
I agree to a point. It’s like a 0:0 in a World cup final. There may have been better games / races before, but since the title decicion is up for grabs, it’s just too thrilling to switch channels
Pinball
14th November 2010, 14:48
My thoughts are the same. Given the WDC situation I was struggling to stay interested.
Tom
14th November 2010, 14:44
Sebastian is faster than you.
MercedesBeanz
14th November 2010, 14:44
I predicted this result yesterday on this blog
Lets face it, there is something screwy going on. The renaults engines come alive, Webbers car not at the same pace as vettel’s, who was not penalised for his stunt behind the safety car..
There should be an independent body monitoring fia communications with the cars’ ecu’s
Anthony
14th November 2010, 19:51
i think you have a point here about the Renaults and both Red Bulls..
Brazil is a much better track for a final race not this Tilke designed snore fest…….
TimmyA
14th November 2010, 14:51
Overall boring besides the WDC but glad alonso lost very glad
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
14th November 2010, 14:53
I thought it was a great race, but points will have to be deducted for the conspiracy theorists who will come out and claim Red Bull shafted Webber.
But full marks and then some for proving that good sportsman ship wins out.
BasCB
14th November 2010, 15:32
I think it was nothing special for a race, i gave it 7/10.
Highlights were surely Red Bull finally doing
some clever strategy to give Vettel a free back to win it and Alonso thanking Petrov in the end. Why call it conspiracy theory, it was clever thinking to me, Webber was not going to end up taking 8 points off Alonso from behind, the McLarens might have dangered Vettel, so RBR used Mark to get both Ferrari’s out of the equation.
Some tension at times, a few passes on track. Also the way Vettel reacted to winning the Title was pretty impressive.
Maciek
14th November 2010, 15:51
Same rating from me, but only because it decided the title. On its own merits as a race it was a snoozer. The conspiracy theorists I think are going to have a field day with the Renaults blocking both of RedBull’s rivals, though.
Greg
14th November 2010, 22:15
I rated it a 7 for the same reasons as Maciek. It wasn’t a great race, but because it was the WDC decider, and there was a lot of intrigue with the permutations and combinations to hold my interest.
US_Peter (@us_peter)
14th November 2010, 22:36
Yes, RBR and sportsmanship are vindicated, Ferrari and team orders suffer karmic retribution.
Adam Tate
14th November 2010, 23:19
Have to agree with you PM.
For me this race was all about Karma. Many people derided Redbull and called them absolutely mad for not caving to team orders, but had they, they would have lost the Championship today. They didn’t, they took the high road, and it paid off, whilst Ferrari suffered for the shame they brought to the sport. Vettel thoroughly delivered today, where Alonso and Webber did not, they choked, and didn’t drive like champions. Vettel did, he was the most deserving candidate, having dominated the season speed wise, and when it mattered most, he made it stick today. A massive congratulations to him and all the people at Redbull for holding their heads high and never giving up!
spawinte
14th November 2010, 14:54
6/10 I rarely rate a race below 7 but watching guys stuck behind slower cars for 30 laps kinda makes a mockery of the word “race”.
Nin13 (@)
14th November 2010, 14:56
10/10………..
djdaveyp
14th November 2010, 14:58
I was going to give it an 8, but then Alonso crying at Petrov turned it into a 10. Cry baby alonso goes home with nothing, Vettel will be a good champ and he did a great job. And McLaren get second, so cheating ferrari can suck that up too.
I’m very proud of Red Bull for not using team orders. Shame one of my guys couldn’t win the title but at the end of the day Red Bull have done a fantastic job.
Ferrari…..sponsored by Kleenex
BasCB
14th November 2010, 15:34
Good job from Renault to make up for winning it in Singapore 08 by keeping Ferrari from profiting from Hockenheim.
US_Peter (@us_peter)
14th November 2010, 22:40
Yep. I think it was karma that Alonso lost the championship, and perfectly appropriate that it was Renault that stood in his way. Renault can’t be blamed though it was his own driving and Ferrari’s mistaken strategy that lost him the championship. Well deserved for Vettel, who’ll be a much better spokesman for the sport than Captain Grumpy Pants.
Adam Tate
14th November 2010, 23:22
hahaha that was hilarious, Ferrari sponsored by kleenex.
Fallon
14th November 2010, 15:01
I’m pleased for Vettel, but from a racing point of view it was shocking. As a neutral I just wanted the Renaults out the way so we could have some excitement. 3/10
Name not required
14th November 2010, 15:16
Same 3/10 here
The season started on a boring Arab note and it ended exactly the same. Sure it was fun if you watch F1 for tables rather than what’s actually going on in track.
Otherwise – an awful track and an awfully uneventful race for a season ender. Rosberg behind Buemi, Hamilton behind Kubica, Alonso behind Petrov and Massa behind Algersuari, none of whom succeeded whatsoever.
The track just needs to be bombed. And the championship has to start in Australia and finish in Brazil.
Younger Hamilton
14th November 2010, 16:02
Full Circle, everything comes to an end how it all began lol again
CarsVsChildren
14th November 2010, 16:49
I’m with you guys. I get the feeling that with the title hanging on the line at Interlagos, Melbourne, Suzuka, or any other race track that is actually a “race” track then you would have seen an absolutely epic race today.
Millions of casual viewers tuned in today to the most anticipated race in decades and every single one of them were reminded why they don’t watch every week.
thestig84 (@)
14th November 2010, 18:35
Totally agree with you. Hated Abu Dhabi from day one. They guys out there all love it for the 5* treatment but the track is flat, boring and has that monstrosity of a hotel for the cameras to constantly look at! Brazil for the final race every year period.
Steve M
14th November 2010, 15:01
As a race very boring and processional how anyone can rate 10 is beyond me (in fact above 6).
How they manage to create new tracks that are so hard to overtake on is also beyond me.
As for a WDC result. A total shocker.
Lewis for 2011 lol
Kevin
14th November 2010, 15:02
It was tense, but if it was mid-season, it would’ve been boring. Get rid of this track already, or at least put some gravel traps and grass here and there.
ExplosiveFace
14th November 2010, 15:22
There are gravel traps, and plenty of grass.
Pinball
14th November 2010, 20:59
ExplosiveFace, there is no grass in the runoff areas, that’s all asphalt, some of it painted in a sand / gravel trap colour. Check out this google map link (http://bit.ly/a3frhL) for an aerial pic before they put all the paint on the runoff areas.
Pinball
14th November 2010, 20:56
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head Kevin, with all the asphalt around the place it seems more like a training facility rather than a race track. It seems as if it’s too easy for a driver under pressure to use the asphalt runoff where another circuit would have grass or asphalt, meaning there is no consequence for them. A good example of this was when Alonso made his one attack Petrov, he went off the circuit, and it made absolutely no difference to his race.
If they are going to use Asphalt runoffs then maybe the runoff needs some sort of surfacing that destroys the tyres, forcing a driver to pit. It’s a bit ridiculous that at some circuits at certain move will result in a retirement, but at others circuits you effectively get a get out of jail free card for making the same move.
TommyB (@tommyb89)
14th November 2010, 15:03
10. 11? 10… 100 :D
sato113
14th November 2010, 17:06
haha, i bet you loved this race tommy! VETTEL no.1!
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley)
14th November 2010, 15:04
I gave it a 5. Very frustrating. May have been less overtakes than Bahrain (dare I say it!). I only remember seeing Kubica and Hamilton passing Kobayashi… :(
torrit
14th November 2010, 16:28
Kubica got past Sutil earlier. I also remember Kobayashi fighting with Barichello and Alonso and Webber passing Alguersuari.
At the start it seemed that it will get quite exciting but when Alonso and Hamilton came back on track behind Renaults it became apparent that the title race was over. Petrov was the fastest at the speed trap so there was no way Alonso would get past him unless Vitaly would make a big mistake. Also it quickly turned out that Hamilton isn’t fast enough to get past Robert.
So I agree that the race was quite dull, but I gave it 7 as it was a title-decider and we got a little bit of action after all.
Adam Tate
14th November 2010, 23:28
Everyone seems to be bemoaning the fact that Hamilton got stuck behind Kubica, and that Alonso got stuck behind Petrov. Kubica is a fantastic driver and the close battle he and Hamilton had was one of my favorite parts of the race. And instead of everyone bemoaning the Alonso couldn’t get past Petrov, why don’t we congratulate a rookie who was able to withstand race long pressure from a 2 time WDC who was charging to try and get a 3rd title. That was fantastic driving by Petrov even if his car was faster in a straitline, it isn’t anywhere as good as the F60 and he isn’t anywhere as good as Alonso, but today, he was. And that is why Alonso didn’t deserve this championship. In face, in my opinion, he never did. So major props to Vettel.
Adam Tate
14th November 2010, 23:29
If that drive doesn’t earn the 2nd Renault seat for Petrov next season I don’t know what will!!
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley)
15th November 2010, 3:35
I am very pleased for Vitaly, but what I am saying is; seeing drivers inches from the tail of another driver, yet being unable to do anything at all to get past is very boring. I hope we don’t have any races like this next year…
graham228221
14th November 2010, 15:06
6/10
To be fair, the Renaults looked faster in a straight line so it’s not surprising that they caused so much frustration. Would have liked some more risktaking really, especially Alonso and Hamilton.
And it would have been really dire without the first lap safety car.
Shame, F1 had a big chance to make a lot of extra fans today.
Martyn
14th November 2010, 15:07
3/10
I don’t think that the Abu Dhabi circuit design facilitated a satisfying result. We don’t want overtaking to be too easy, but the balance was substantially too far towards the side of overtaking being impossible for this to be a proper “race” rather than a time trial + strategy.
Halfway in I was enjoying the race, but the WDC drama fizzled out when this problem became apparent. Therefore I’m judging the race on its own merits, and it was the second dullest race of the year after Bahrain.
Fallon
14th November 2010, 15:07
Exactly my thoughts, well said
bosyber
14th November 2010, 15:09
I think it was a very tense race, although part of that was just that it was the last of the season and the WDC decider. But it did have a lot of battling, even if in the end not many really worked.
Alonso being annoyed at Petrov defending at the end (and still in interview afterwards) doesn’t really surprise me in a way, we saw it once in a while during 2006 too, it confirms my view of Alonso. Vettel crying made his win a lot better, it was real emotion from him, finally, even if I still don’t think he deserved the WDC more than some of the others.
In a season where people have worried that the tire rules would rubbish the season, here they had some good effect I think. Strategy is what made the race interesting – not as good as just plain on track fighting, but it does add to the tenseness, seeing how the different strategies play out.
I just really would like to see next year cars, including Red Bulls, always fighting for a win on track for real, not just battling gremlins or the track record on the way to an unchallenged win.
jackal
14th November 2010, 15:10
What a snore fest, if it wasn’t for the position changes with the pit stops and Hamiltion Kubica passing Kobayashi I would call it a 1.
I just hope that the technical rules for next year will provide more overtaking opportunities. If not, bring back refueling so we get more position changes.
Otherwise it’s as bad as NASCAR but with right turns.
CarsVsChildren
14th November 2010, 16:55
Here’s an idea, let them change the gear box ratios after qualifying.
In the dark of a night race you can see the gear shift indicators, and those cars were redlining in 7th a long way before the end of the straight.
Someone explained in the pre-race that they want it that way for qualifying, but if you want to pass someone on the long straight you need a little bit extra in the gear box to help out…
reddevilandy10
14th November 2010, 15:15
Rubbish grand prix. The track is not deserving of a championship decider.
All in all, well done Vettel for keeping his nose out of trouble. You always had a feeling that if he could get in front, he’d stay in front.
I think the tyre situation and the safety car ruined it.
Meh. Next year is gonna be a cracking season!!
chris sz
14th November 2010, 15:19
keith i want to rate the season please!
William
14th November 2010, 15:20
Exciting beginning up until the crash. The rest of the race, except pit strategies, was quite boring. The course itself is ruined with 3 chicanes and quick many city street type turns which leads to very tough overtaking. The battles trying to take the renaults were both disappointing and although I hate red bull as a product I can’t be bias toward the achivements vettel has accomplished.
matt88 (@matt88)
14th November 2010, 15:22
5/10
One only word: FRUSTRATION. A circuit like this doesn’t deserve a title decider, I want Interlagos back!
The venue is magic, but the track is awful. I suggest Tilke to re-design it from scrap…
chris sz
14th November 2010, 15:29
im sure they have the money and the means to do that before next season…
matt88 (@matt88)
14th November 2010, 16:00
maybe UAE’s sheikhs don’t use their petrodollars as toilet paper, but we’re not far away from the truth… :D
Mike
14th November 2010, 15:23
I really enjoyed that. 8, I would have loved Alonso to have been able to get past Petrov.
But apart from that, great race. Quite a few hairy moments and good passes.
Xanathos
14th November 2010, 15:23
4/10
Even if I supported Webber all season, congratulations to Vettel!
But without the championship tension the race would have been boring.
Hotbottoms
14th November 2010, 15:26
Sigh, I hope that Interlagos is the season final next year. Seriously, how can the race be so boring when there are four drivers who can win the championship.
Net.Sticks
14th November 2010, 15:27
Alonso WAS NOT the world champion – 10 POINTS!!!!
Next year, McLaren will rules all the way !!!!!
Congrats to Vettel
djdaveyp
14th November 2010, 15:31
Here here. Cry baby loses out. Wooooo.
Victor.
14th November 2010, 15:29
The race showed why F1 does not need loads of overtaking to be entertaining.
The Petrov-Alonso-Webber and Kubica-Hamilton battles were intense. The Kubica vs Alonso battle was equally interesting.
If Vettel was threatened at the top, the race would have been a 10. Instead I am giving it a 9.
Sandman
14th November 2010, 15:40
Couldn’t agree more.
Reading through all the comments left me puzzled. Snore fest? I must have been watching a different race. Mine had tension high up there from start to finish.
Sure, there was little overtaking (mostly Kubica & Hamilton, also Webber at backmarkers) but in F1 you gain positions not only in direct fight and thats how it should be. I also dont understand the “if that wasn’t last GP of the season” argument.
But it was! Hence, should be judged as one.
The thing that made it an 8 for me was the fact that this circuit seriously lacks on slow corners. Bring one or two and enjoy the GP’s here two times more.
Mark
14th November 2010, 19:11
I really don’t understand the comments here…
How can you say it was a snore fest when the P-A-W and K-H battles went on lap after lap after lap…
Certainly at the circuit the atmosphere was electric !
James_mc
14th November 2010, 22:22
Unfortunately they weren’t battles as the track is not conducive to overtaking. Yes HAM got bas KOB but KOB was on an ancient set of tyres in a much slower car. The Renaults are no slouches.
Adam Tate
14th November 2010, 23:35
Agree with you 100 percent Victor.
RedBullRacer
14th November 2010, 15:30
I was on the edge of my seat for much of the race but that’s only because I’m a Red Bull fan and all the tension was about Petrov being able to hold up Alonso. The fact that Petrov and Rosberg pitted under the SC, and that Ferrari (and Webber) royally screwed themselves with mistimed pitstops, were the only things that made this race exciting. Kubica and Hamilton’s moves on Kobayashi and Webber and Alonso’s far less interesting moves on Alguersuari were pretty much the only overtakes in the whole race.
As most people have already said, this track is rubbish and should not host the final race. Much like Bahrain is terrible and should not host the first race. Sadly, this is F1 and money talks louder than anything else.
Guelph35
14th November 2010, 15:38
I gave it a 7, but had it not been the last race of the season it would’ve been a 4 or 5.
Kyle
14th November 2010, 15:38
7/10, but definitely one or two of those points are chalked solely down to title tension. Not an awful lot happened, aside from the strategy permutations working themselves through. As my money was behind Vettel for the title since pre-season, I was happy with how it worked out, but it wasn’t a fantastic race.
Realist
14th November 2010, 15:41
Awful awful awful GP.
Borefest.
djdaveyp
14th November 2010, 15:45
^^^^ Alonso fan ^^^^
Feli
14th November 2010, 19:12
So what?
Do we have to beg yor pardon for being Alonso fans?
Yobo05
14th November 2010, 15:42
7/10.
It could have been a better race, probably because I wanted to see more overtakings.
In spite of that it was an intense race, from the first to the last lap.
The tension was killing me.
Icthyes
14th November 2010, 15:43
7 only for the significance of the race.
ukk
14th November 2010, 15:44
6. A lot at stake to guarantee the tension, but as a race it was kind of dullish. If it was mid-season it could well be a 5 or lower.
MarcusAurelius
14th November 2010, 15:52
10 points
I wanted Webber to win and last week I thought that he was going to make it with the help of Vettel ketting him through on the last lap.
But after qualifying i was convinced that Alonso would have an easy job winning the title. But that would leave a bad taste because of Hockenheim.
But to have reversed it again during the race for Vettel lept me on the edge of my Seat.
Also, isn’t it ironic Alonse could’t get past the car he left last year.
sasbus
14th November 2010, 15:55
Excellent run by Vettel Hamilton and woow Button.
Ferrari wasted their chances on an unwarranted strategy.
Track….Can there by some place to overtake please.
beneboy (@beneboy)
14th November 2010, 15:56
4 – Although it only scored that high because it was the championship decider, had it taken place earlier in the season I probably would have given it 1 or 2 as the race itself was a dull procession that I only kept watching because of the championship battle.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
14th November 2010, 16:03
it was a boring race, despite the WDC situation.
It’s very difficult to understand why there are so many chicanes at that circuit.
jihelle (@jihelle)
14th November 2010, 16:04
Alonso blaming Petrov at the end was totally unfair. He can only blame his team for losing the World Championship. Ferrari hit bottom today and got what they deserved for manipulating races. Kudos to Vettel. A great champion.
RaulZ
14th November 2010, 22:37
I think he was just frustrated. Petrov did his job.
CeeVee
14th November 2010, 16:15
Alonso is quoted as saying ‘F1 isn’t about overtaking’
It was heartwarming to see him sticking so firmly to his beliefs and practising what he preaches.
Truly a man of principle.
David-A (@david-a)
14th November 2010, 16:38
Comment of the day. Right there.
Hey
14th November 2010, 16:18
I think to get a true gauge we’d have to watch the race back, knowing that no-one’s engine blows up and knowing how it plays out.
I gave it a 7, but after reading a couple of points on here I realise that this race really could have been as bad as Bahrain by itself. No way to take back my vote though :(
Dennoow
14th November 2010, 16:40
Well I think Kubica did 2 spectacular passing moves at the beginning of the race, can’t believe Ferrari still go with Massa after watching that! Besides, I liked the Hamilton vs. Kubica and the Alonso vs. Petrov fights, beatifull racing! I also love that hotel, nice colours! Rated it 8/10.
roberttty
14th November 2010, 16:49
4/10
Sorry, but it was not a race fitting for a championship decider.
The championship result was worth 10/10 with Vettel’s win but the race was pretty processional IMO.
Monad
14th November 2010, 16:50
I give it a 6. It wasn’t really very interesting. Alonso and Webber stuck behind Petrov and Webber making no impression on Alonso.
And then Hamilton and Vettel miss on battling out because of Kubica.
Renault cars where difficult to pass because they had good speed on the straight today. Even Mclaren was just equal and not faster. I don’t want to hear Horner whining again about the power of the Renault engine.
vayha
14th November 2010, 17:33
It is not about engine. Max speed is about downforce setup. Fast on straight but slower on corners because of low grip.
jayb
14th November 2010, 17:05
3. A very flat end to a great season. How you can spend so much om a track and get next to no passing is beyond me. The track needs to be changed or this will become a race to miss.
Electrolite
14th November 2010, 17:06
A 4. Alonso and Webber getting stuck denied us of such a promising race =( but it happens. I do have a tendency to dislike Vettel as some of you know but he’s been relentless the last few races.
Larcem
14th November 2010, 17:11
this was an awesome race. that crash in the first lap decided everything if you think about it. and Petrov did awesome today. I admit, I expected more from Alonso and Webber, in terms of performance AND in sporting terms. for Alonso do give Petrov the finger was just immature. and congrats to Vettel! truly deserved it!
MacLeod
14th November 2010, 17:17
I gave it a 5 that is more for the tension if Vettel would be champion or not by blowing his engine. Renault and Mercedes were to true heroes today. The race is way to hard to rate on this really dull dull circuit.
Alonso need to grow up and overtake Petrov if he wants tobe champion instead he is furious about not getting him by. If i was Petrov i would smack Alonso in the face for trying to blame him for not letting him through.
Greup
14th November 2010, 17:19
We must never again have this track as the last one of the season. It produced a dull, dull race.
PJ
14th November 2010, 17:27
Actual race: 5
Outside of the Schumacher incident, and Petrov holding back Alonso, not much happened on-track.
Were this not a championship decider it would have been classified as a snoozefest :)
HounslowBusGarage
14th November 2010, 17:29
I didn’t watch the race – family stuff – so I didn’t rate the race.
Instead I just watched the ten minute BBC highlights, and that was really illuminating. I reckon that about half their highlights is made up of pit stops and footage of the cars going through the tunnel. That sort of suggests to me that there wasn’t much action on the track. If there had been, the BBC would have used the exciting bits instead of the pit stops!
Nesto
14th November 2010, 17:32
thank god Brazil is coming back next year as the finale. Honestly, put the processional races at the beginning or the middle but not at the end !!
d-d
14th November 2010, 17:32
10/10. It was a great race, but in the type of chess game, most deciding fight was correspondent by race tactics, pitstop tactics and overtaking attempts. Absolutely absorbing, the best race of the season.
flyingj
14th November 2010, 17:39
Something I noticed about this race was that there seemed to be no slipstream effect here. When Hamilton was behind Kubica on the straights, we would even close the gap. I’m not saying that he would have gotten past, but at least gotten close with a tow. And the same goes for Alonso and Petrov, Alonso couldn’t even get along side, despite being just a few meters behind entering the straight. I don’t get it.
d-d
14th November 2010, 19:53
because the straights started from very slow corners, meaning that a car accelerating in front could go away too far to provide enough slipstream before the next corner.
That’s fundamental error in Tilke’s tracks.
Many of huis tracks needs quicker corners before the straights – see Brazil Senna-S.
Matty55
14th November 2010, 18:05
The race itself was let down by two things. Lack of overtaking and the miles of runoff areas. Put in a few sand traps to give drivers a bit of a challenge hopefully kers will aid overtaking
Renzo
14th November 2010, 18:35
sad to see cars that are 2 seconds a lap faster than others not able to overtake anything… aerodynamics is still a big problem
Maciek
14th November 2010, 20:29
My thoughts exactly. This race was an awful (but apt) example of how aerodynamically sensitive these cars are in turbulence. It’s definitely something that should be made to change.
Pink Peril
15th November 2010, 5:25
Exactly. It just beggars beleif that we have the highest paid and best drivers in the world forced to basically follow the leader for 50 odd laps because of deficiencies with the cars and the tracks.
I gave the race a 5, due to not much by way of actual racing going on. Sure it was a bit tense, but that was only because it was for the decider. If it was any other race, you wouldn’t care less about such a boring procession.
Very disappointed with the result also. I don’t like Vettel, and I just can’t beleive the amount of people here swallowing RBR’s line about not playing favourites – yet are so quick to harp on about Alonso’s extra 7 points. RBR did everything they could to ensure Vettel won the title over Webber (and I freely admit Webber himself did not help matters in Korea), but a level playing field it was not. Hopefully this is Webber’s 2008, loses it at the last hurdle and comes back better next year. I doubt it somehow, but I live in hope !
Art2D2
14th November 2010, 18:42
I don’t understand why every one found this to be a boring dull race. I found it to be a very intense race, since it played out to be so different from what everyone expected. Normally Petrov makes a mistake, today he didn’t, Alonso just could not make it. Kubica in a fight with Kobayashi, then with Hamilton. Ok, not a lot of overtaking, but all the time during the race, the championship outcome could alter. I had a great afternoon. I am not a particular fan of anyone, but I think it is great that the underdog won today. I think he deserved the WDC, partly because of his bad luck sometimes, partly because of what happened in Germany.
YeaMon
14th November 2010, 19:01
God almighty. I really don’t like Alonso, but I find it ironic how people call him a cry baby and yet their favorite driver is Lewis Hamilton who crys to his pit crew nearly every race.
Anyways, race was a 7/10. Wasn’t all that boring, but it became dull due to the good tyre strategy by the teams.
Mark
14th November 2010, 19:08
I was at the race and the atmosphere at the circuit was electric.
Basically Vettel did what he needed to do. Hamilton gave it his best shot. Alonso screwed up by pitting and not being able to get past Petrov. Webber was slow and lost the plot all weekend.
Vettel should have been penalised for getting being too far behind the safety car. I thought they’d introduced rules about that ?
JT
14th November 2010, 19:24
ahhh soo much Alonso haters on this…we can all give it up to Vettel he earned this win with hard work and determination but you going to tell me that Alonso is a cry baby or w.e common when you on the championship lead and you have the team that provides their engines to Red Bull in front of you doing eveything it takes to keep you behing i think a simple “thank you” would have NOT been enough to express my self to Petrov. and in another note is funny how Petrov was always slacking and crashing out but in this race the guy raced like a veteran. very disappointed on this race and this billion dollar race track
Maciek
14th November 2010, 20:21
There sure are lots of people talking gibberish because they’re so giddy Alonso didn’t win, but your comment that petrov was “doing eveything it takes to keep you behing” is umm, you know… that’s called racing last time I looked. I certainly didn’t see him do anything remotely questionable.
Adam Tate
15th November 2010, 0:29
I think people just have a problem with a rookie out driving a two time WDC. I however, find it FANTASTIC.
spankythewondermonkey (@spankythewondermonkey)
15th November 2010, 14:01
shades of 2007? ;-)
Randy
14th November 2010, 19:58
A generous 5/10 only because of the title implications. Otherwise this race was stout competition for the Bahrain race.
Congrats to Seb and RBR.
Track needs to be reconfigured. I’d use a few well placed daisy cutters.
Patrickl (@patrickl)
14th November 2010, 20:22
Probably the most boring race of the season as far as racing goes.
Obviously the matter that the championship was riding on the result kept me watching (most of the time), but if was hardly exciting nonetheless.
Apart from Hamilton and Kubica getting past a struggling Kobayashi (who, like Button was out way too long on supersofts) were the only two overtakes I can remember.
JT
14th November 2010, 20:27
@Maciek there wouldn’t be no issue if it wasn’t a RENAULT!!! car in front of Alonso.
Roberto
14th November 2010, 20:36
If we had the same race in a “proper” race track like suzuka or interlagos, alonso wouldn´t get stuck behind the Renault. Not that i wanted alonso to win, but i think that a “mickey mouse” track cost alonso a championship. He just could not fight!
Adam Tate
15th November 2010, 0:32
If Alonso really wanted it he would have risked a move, any move. Fact is he just couldn’t get it done. Hypothesizing he could have at another circuit is meaningless. He didn’t get the job done, and he didn’t win the championship.
Piffles
14th November 2010, 20:50
Lots of tension and the cars were close all the way, but no racing at all. Gave it a 6 because of the importance of the race. Objectively, probably 4.
Abu Dhabi is just absolutely pathetic. All the money in the world and they go and build a giant car park around a hotel instead of a race track.
Robbie
14th November 2010, 20:56
7/10
Opening few laps were fantastically entertaining but the rest of it was just a procession. However, it scores more for the pure tension of a championship in the balance.
Regis
14th November 2010, 22:17
What a boring track this is… very disapointing.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
14th November 2010, 22:18
Jonathan Legard just Tweeted:
Regis
14th November 2010, 22:32
Good to hear, i think the last race of the season should still be Brazil, much more exciting stuff
Jason
15th November 2010, 6:20
Unfortunately, I think this will be in the vein of “this kerb needs to be higher,” and “the camber here should really be fixed.”. Not good stuff like, scrap the layout and make it something the drivers can actually attempt to pass on.
Piffles
15th November 2010, 18:08
I would just bulldoze the place and start from scratch – the Cheikh can afford it.
gabal
14th November 2010, 22:30
It deserved a 4 but I gave it 5 because it was exciting as a title decider.
I think it had even less track action then Valencia and that is telling a lot.
Adrian
15th November 2010, 0:24
On track, the race was as good as any I can think of this season…certainly I found it fascinating.
Well done to Red Bull Racing and Sebastian Vettel.
But please, please, please, please, PLEASE can BBC get rid of Jonathan Legard from the Eddie Jordan Show, sorry F1 coverage….oh and maybe retire Eddie Jordan too – they’re both spoiling what would otherwise be a flawless show.
Mel Hutchinson
15th November 2010, 1:11
I wish I had a solution for so many of these racetracks. To me it is obvious that the new tracks are not designed to allow for overtaking. Pole position is critical and he with the most poles should be world champ. I find it hard to believe that Kubica and Hamilton were so evenly matched. Was Petrov really running laps exactly as fast as Alonso all day? I think we all want to see the same thing………….racing. Racing means overtaking. I for one can go out once a week and watch time trails from multiple car clubs if that’s what I choose. What can be done to convince Bernie that his favorite circuits are not our favorites? What is wrong with the design of the circuits that don’t allow for passing? With India, Russia, and the United States introducing new circuits in the upcoming seasons, what can be included in the circuit designs to allow for multiple overtaking locations? In my opinion, this is what we need to be concerned with. By the way, I rated this race a 6/10 because while beautiful, the circuit limits the drivers ability for overtaking.
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
15th November 2010, 1:28
It was a boring race but I gave it 7 just because of the tension it gave me & many others over the 55 laps.
Joey-Poey
15th November 2010, 4:30
It was exciting because of the championship and there were a few good squabbles, but ultimately, it was a bit of an anticlimax to be decided by strategy. 6/10
Jason
15th November 2010, 6:16
I want to say that any race where Fernando Alonso does NOT win the WDC scores a ten, but that would just be mean. True, but mean. In reality though, it was a procession and really only gets a 6 from me. I was happy to finally see the WDC winner on the podium at the last race, let alone the actual race winner. Congrats to Seb Vettel and Red Bull for pulling this out especially after all the car failures he’s had this year. Were it not for those, he would have handily been beating the others anyway. Now, here’s hoping that McLaren and Hamilton can take that title back next year!!!
spankythewondermonkey (@spankythewondermonkey)
15th November 2010, 10:38
rated it a 5. if it wasn’t for it being the championship decider, it was very nearly (schumi accident excepting) totally forgettable.
Bhupinder
15th November 2010, 11:07
Alonso must have been crying sitting in his Ferrari and thinking how come he is unable to pass the Reanult…. Unlucky and poor strategy…But terrific race from Vettel’s point of view and congrats to him…!!!
spankythewondermonkey (@spankythewondermonkey)
15th November 2010, 13:58
why do i get the feeling that a lot of votes are being cast based on the result rather than the quality of the race? i don’t get how anybody could rate that RACE a 10. perfect? seriously?
PJA
15th November 2010, 17:47
If you ignore the tension created by the title showdown the race itself wasn’t that great.
The BBC team may have been singing the praises of the facilities at the track saying it is the best on the calendar, but what matters to the people watching on TV is the quality of the racing and that is why fans will always choose somewhere like Interlagos over Yas Marina.