Saw a headline earlier today that eases the Senna/Prost Suzuka concerns.

IIRC, the title was something to the effect of the FIA saying that they would look at deducting points as a penalty for deliberately taking out an opposing driver.
I assume this would include up to a DQ for a team, if say Perez took Lewis out instead of Max.

Hoping for a good finale this weekend. Revised layout is supposedly going to give lap times around 15 seconds faster/lap.

There was an article this morning that suggested tires may be an issue.
The track has installed the same type curbing as used in Qatar where they had the hardest three compounds and several failures that were blamed on the type of curbing.

Here they brought the three softest and Pirelli are concerned there could be failures. I'm not sure why the compound is an issue as that seems like a tire construction issue. Maybe that's different with different compound ranges. I'm sure we'll hear more if that's the case.

Lets just hope clean but well driven race and no need for the officials to get in the middle.

https://dailynationtoday.com/l...e-curb-in-abu-dhabi/

Force a 2 stop & more strategy?
At least the teams have some track knowledge here, unlike Losail.

I wonder if F1 will ever allow a real race to break out.

Merc considering a fresh engine and 5 place penalty again for Lewis.

I wonder what Honda and RB's opinion/plans are if that happens? Looked recently like a fresh engine dialed up to Max (hehehe) served Merc pretty well. Given RB don't have to win just beat Lewis do they take the same gamble and hope that if starting 6-8th place they all get taken out if one does? Whatever they do, they have to let Merc make first move.

That would be a pretty tough call. I think the complete disregard for engine longevity in a one-race push would be tempting.

And also very risky for a kaboom.....

Raikkonen tribute on the Alfa this weekend:

How about an engine turned up to 11 for qualifying, then a fresh engine for the race?

quote:

Originally posted by HuskySig:
How about an engine turned up to 11 for qualifying, then a fresh engine for the race?

I'd guess a bigger grid drop, or pit lane start, if the engine were replaced after quali, as the cars are in parq ferme as soon as the lights go green for Q1.

Keep in mind that the engine they ran today could have been an older unit in the pool. As the season goes on, many of the parts that have a specified life and are still good get used on Friday as common practice.
The engine they have in the car starting tomorrow is the one that counts or you get the penalty.

On another subject, sad news today as Big Al, Al Unser Sr. passed away after a decade+ bout with cancer.
I met him years ago, parked for a weekend next to his motor home in a Indycar paddock.
He seemed to be a genuinely decent guy that had a real love of the sport beyond just his own involvement. Four time Indy 500 winner and I think he lead more laps than anyone else. I don't think I ever heard even any of his competitors say anything but good things about him.
82 years old.

A nice story about his life and career here.
https://racer.com/2021/12/10/al-unser-1939-2021/

So far so good. Pole and 4th for Max and Checo. Lewis in 2nd and Bottas in 6th.

As far as Al Sr. goes, that's another tough loss in the IndyCar family this year. On the plus side, at least we were able to get this before his passiing:

https://images.app.goo.gl/v5YJftStfMbaSyT89

YES!

33

It'll be interesting with the Mercs the only ones in the top 6 starting on the meds.

Stewards... Line one. Any available stewards please answer line one...

quote:

Originally posted by .38supersig:
Stewards... Line one. Any available stewards please answer line one...

Unbelievable…

quote:

Originally posted by JDHunz:

quote:

Originally posted by .38supersig:
Stewards... Line one. Any available stewards please answer line one...

Unbelievable…

So much for being consistent from one week to the next.

Jim

! ! ! ! ! ! !

That was crazy!!

Jim

Fuck you Mercedes.

That. Was. AWESOME!!!