Saturday, November 13, 2010

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2010 - Qualifying Saturday

This is my little write-up of my experience at Saturday's F1 Qualifying race at the Yas Marina Circuit, here in Abu Dhabi.

Autoracingdaily.com says it best,
For the first time in 60 years of Formula 1 racing, a season has come down to the final Grand Prix, with four drivers in contention for the World Championship—the most coveted title in all of international motorsports.
After 18 races on five continents, 1,074 laps of high-speed action over the course of eight months, these four—Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton—will climb into their chariots this Sunday in hopes of being crowned champion at the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi.
Even McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh, who’s unlikely to walk away with any big trophy this weekend, has hailed 2010’s Formula 1 season as “probably the greatest in history.”



Present driver's standings, all still with a chance of being crowned the F1 World Champion for 2010!
Fernando Alonso, Ferrari : 246 points
Mark Webber, Red Bull-Renault : 238 points
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault : 231 points
And with an outside chance ... Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes : 222 points

First glimpse of HRT, Hispania F1 Racing Team, I think this is Christian Klein.


Yay, Malaysia Boleh! Team Lotus Racing, managed by Tony "Air Asia" Fernandez. Not sure if this is Jarno Trulli or Heikki Kovalainen. Good to see test driver Fairuz Fauzy of Malaysia take to the track on Friday's free practise :-)



Tricky corner before the Yas Hotel "bridge"!

Wah... only way to watch F1 in style, from a helicopter!


What an incredible year Red Bull Racing is having, winning the Constructor's Championship!


AT&T Williams team driver zooming down the straight, I tried my best to capture these on shutter priority at 1/2000s but it was tough with a Nikon D80 and low-light, I always have a soft spot for veteran driver Rubens Barrichello!
Scuderia Ferrari Malboro seems to have fewer fans these days, I remember in my first F1 at Sepang, Malaysia some years ago, everyone seemed to be wearing RED :-) Times have changed ... Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso charging down the Support Pit straight :-)

My first sunset race :-) Wonder how it compares to Singapore!

Good to see Force India F1 team doing well this season, that's Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi.
The old and the new :-) Michael Schumacher (Mercedes GP Petronas F1 team) and Lewis Hamilton!

Will it be Fernando Alonso or Mark Webber!?
I reckon Alonso will hold his nerves ... and win win win!

Results of the Qualifying today ...
Pole position - Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel
2nd - Lewis Hamilton, McLaren
3rd - Fernando Alonso, Ferrari
4th - Jenson Button, McLaren
5th - Oh oh … Mark Webber, Red Bull

The Yas Hotel preparing for the ultra prestigious F1 Ball. I heard tickets were going for 4,500 AED (or RM$3,600) per head! Time for me to bid good night to the track ... I will see you for Race Day tomorrow!

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