Well it wasn’t the all-British front row that we’d hope for, but McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton stuck his car on pole position for the inaugural Abu Dhabi GP, the last race of the year.
Incoming world champion Jenson Button had been hinting at his intent to go out on a flyer during practice yesterday, but it turned out not to be as he only got in to fifth, again behind teammate Rubens Barrichello.
However as Jenson showed during his title winning race in Brazil two weeks ago, he may not be the best qualifier but he certainly knows how to drive a race, so we could still end with the Brits fighting at the front of tomorrow’s race.
The Red Bull pair of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber are second and third respectively, which leaves Vettel in a strong position to grab second place in the World Drivers’ Championship, as his teammate is between him and second place rival Rubens.
It’s all shaping up to be a cracking race, and my money’s on Toyota new boy Kobayashi having a punt at an overtake in the car and a half wide pit exit tunnel.
Check BBC Sport for the full line-up, and post the weights below if you see them, as I have a halloween party to get ready for.
Nice one Lewis, good job there. Hope Jenson can get up a bit, I’ve been wanting a British podium for years!
As I predicted before the weekend lewis or vettel and that this is THE best of the new tracks by far.
this lack of british summer time has munted everything for aussie viewers
“…that we’d hope for”
Had WE? I was personally ruiting for Alonso, Vettel or Kubica!
OFFICIAL FUEL CORRECTED TIMES:
1 Hamilton (lap 17 of 55)
2 Vettel+0.496secs (lap 19)
3 Webber +0.721 (lap 18)
4 Trulli +0.721 (lap 18)
5 Barrichello +0.971 (lap 16)
6 Button +1.001 (lap 17)
7 Heidfeld +1.186 (lap 19)
8 Kubica +1.196 (lap 15)
9 Rosberg 1.388 (lap 19)
10 Buemi+1.651 (lap 18)
1. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 658.5kg
2. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 663
3. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 660
4. Rubens Barrichello, Brawn GP, 655
5. Jenson Button, Brawn GP, 657
6. Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 661
7. Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 654.5
8. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 664
9. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 665
10. Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso, 661.5
11. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 692
12. Kamui Kobayashi, Toyota, 694.3
13. Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren, 697
14. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, 704
15. Jaime Alguersuari, Toro Rosso, 696.5
16. Fernando Alonso, Renault, 708.3
17. Vitantonio Liuzzi, Force India, 695
18. Adrian Sutil, Force India, 696
19. Romain Grosjean, Renault, 710.8
20. Giancarlo Fisichella, Ferrari, 692.5
Predicted top 8 Finish:
1. Lewis Hamilton
2. Sebastian Vettel
3. Mark Webber
4. Jenson Buttob
5. Rubens Barrichello
6. Nick Heidfeld
7. Jarno Trulli
8. Robert Kubica
No,Jamie-I for one wasn’t hoping for an all-British front row..I can’t think of anything more dull than Lewis blasting off into the distance as Jenson holds up everyone else or keeps a lonely 2nd place at best. As it stands, Lewis will still blast off into the distance unfortunately (I think he’s a great driver but I want a race, not a Mclaren KERS demonstration)but at least is should be a thrilling battle for 2nd place between the Bulls and the Brawns…
Boy, this race is going to be boring.
Well done Mclaren nxt season will be gr8, it wud be gd to see who wins out of a brit front row
This race will be a little like Singapore but I will expect a crash or 2 to liven it up a bit. But hope it will be good. Go Hammy!!!!
The prediction that Kobayashi will have a punt in the pitlane may not be far from the truth. What’ll actually happen is he will pull it off beautifuly, but everyone watching it will blow their sphincter off from terror.
It is inspiring to watch him. He shall win
Koboyashi should liven-up the proceedings in one way or another tomorrow!:P I love his aggressive driving style.It still makes me laugh how people goes on about Button’s “champion’s drive” at Brazil..hmm..let’s see, his car was stuck behind F1 debutant Koboyashi’s heavier car for 20 laps and also, Button finished only 5th behind Vettel’s 4th and yet despite starting way back on the grid(like Button)Seb hardly got a mention. Oh sorry, I forgot..Button-bias in full effect.Well done to Jenson for winning the championship-I mean that BUT people exaggerated his performance in Brazil(2 decent overtakes and a fast ending is good but not amazing).(Sorry for going a bit off-topic!:P)
@ rookiemonster TOTALLY AGREE. All he did was overtake a few worse drivers in even worse cars, hardly a champions drive!
….unfortunately the last of the season.
Button is a worthy champion – great drive in Brazil showing the needed aggressiveness. Lets not forget its a team effort more then anything, kudo to the whole Brawn team. So lets put this one to rest.
Tomorrow – I don´t hope that Hammy will disappear on the horizon that fast. Maybe his long-run pace is not as good as the qualifying one and he is very light.
I see Vettel and Hammy fighting it out – and Webber watching it from the 2nd row, lighter then Vettel, again a clear team ranking throughout the season like with McLaren.
I am expecting a spectacular race!!!
No one will be able to challenge Hamilton tomorrow it looks like. And I’d like to point out he isnt that light, only a lap or two longer than the Red Bulls and heavier than the Brawns.
Behind Hamilton though it looks like a fascinating race, Heiki is in the same car as Hamilton and is in the middle, Brawn vs RedBull once again, and Toyota thrown in for the mix, and Alonso at the back
Kobayashi should take a lunge for the lead at the end of the 1st sector… that’s interesting. And then the whole order goes into reverse because of that.
Kovalainen is now 18th after taking a penalty for a gearbox change.
…so that means Kobayashi and Nakajima are going to start next to each other. That’ll be interesting if they remember Brazil
i hope kimi win the last race to show Ferrari what they are missing next year. forza Kimi and Ferrari. piss off Alonso, not welcome.
Lewis will win.
I aggree with showie,
yeh, i dont like alonso. he is too slow to be with ferrari. probably the weight of those eyebrows…
yay 22nd comment!
Hamilton will win and i think it will be an interesting race as Kovalinan will blast his way through the grid, there wll be some accidents and Hamilton has pretty much already won with his pace
lol@ Brits thinking Hamilton would win. Carbon Industry brakes el oh el.
Vettel was absolute class – I think he would have beaten Lewis anyway. Unlucky Lewis but it was Seb’s day! Also, great defensive driving from Webber at the end.
Koboyashi!! Along with Vettel, my driver of the race – i’ve been a fan since watching him keep Button behind for 20 laps in Brazil and he was even better in this race: the best 1-stopper by miles!! That Toyota seat is definetely his for 2010
@24: I’m a Brit and I did think Hamilton would zoom off into the distance BUT i’m glad he didn’t because the race would have been over before it began and also the TG website would go on and on and on about it lol. Anyway, i’m a Vettel and Koboyashi fan, so a pretty good race from my perspective
)