Formula One 2014

[SteveB]

The situation regarding the championship, with one race to go.

If Lewis Hamilton does not finish in the points, Nico Rosberg needs fifth place at least to win the championship.

Even if Nico Rosberg wins, Lewis Hamilton must be third or lower for Nico Rosberg to win the championship.

Lewis Hamilton only has to finish second to win the championship. If Lewis Hamilton finishes second, then Nico Rosberg cannot win the championship, no matter where he finishes.

[SteveB]

More permutations for the final race.

Hamilton, 334 points Rosberg, 317 points

How Hamilton can win the title:
 Finish ahead of Rosberg
 Finish no lower than second if Rosberg wins
 Finish fifth or better if Rosberg doesn't win
 Finish sixth or better if Rosberg is not in the top two.
 Finish eighth or better if Rosberg misses out on the podium
 Finish ninth or better if Rosberg is fifth
How Rosberg can win the title:
 Win the race with Hamilton third or lower
 Finish second with Hamilton sixth or lower
 Finish third with Hamilton seventh or lower
 Finish fourth with Hamilton ninth or lower
 Finish fifth with Hamilton 10th or lower
 Should Hamilton not score any points, Rosberg still must finish no lower than fifth to overturn the 17-point deficit.

[SteveB]

Driver Standings
1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 334
2 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 317
3 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing-Renault 214
4 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault 159
5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 157
6 Valtteri Bottas Williams-Mercedes 156
7 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 106
8 Felipe Massa Williams-Mercedes 98
9 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 80
10 Kevin Magnussen McLaren-Mercedes 55
11 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 53
12 Sergio Perez Force India-Mercedes 47
13 Jean-Eric Vergne STR-Renault 22
14 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 8
15 Daniil Kvyat STR-Renault 8
16 Pastor Maldonado Lotus-Renault 2
17 Jules Bianchi Marussia-Ferrari 2
18 Adrian Sutil Sauber-Ferrari 0
19 Marcus Ericsson Caterham-Renault 0
20 Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 0
21 Max Chilton Marussia-Ferrari 0
22 Kamui Kobayashi Caterham-Renault 0
23 Andre Lotterer Caterham-Renault 0
Constructors
1 Mercedes 651
2 Red Bull Racing-Renault 373
3 Williams-Mercedes 254
4 Ferrari 210
5 McLaren-Mercedes 161
6 Force India-Mercedes 127
7 STR-Renault 30
8 Lotus-Renault 10
9 Marussia-Ferrari 2
10 Sauber-Ferrari 0
11 Caterham-Renault 0

[SteveB]

Last race of season,

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Practice 1 Fri 09:00
Practice 2 Fri 13:00
Practice 3 Sat 10:00
Qualifying Sat 13:00
Race Sun 13:00

 Circuit: Yas Marina
 Circuit length: 5.554 km, 3.451 miles
 Race laps: 55
 Race distance: 305.355 km, 189.7388 miles
 Circuit lap record: 1m 40.279s - Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 2009

Live on the BBC
• Friday 21 November
Practice 1 08:55-10:35, BBC Two
Practice 2 13:00-14:35, BBC Two

• Saturday 22 November
Practice 3 09:55-11:05, BBC Two
Qualifying 12:10-14:15, BBC One

• Sunday 23 November
 Race 12:10-15:30, BBC One

[SteveB]

Almost seven weeks after his accident at the Suzuka Circuit, Jules Bianchi has been flown from hospital in Yokkaichi to intensive care in Nice.
He is no longer in an artificial coma and is breathing unaided.
However his condition is still critical and he remains unconscious.

Meanwhile, Michael Schumacher is paralysed and in a wheelchair.
He cannot speak and has memory problems.

Brain injuries, whether caused by accident or illness, are always serious, and it is, unfortunately, unlikely that they will make anything like a full recovery.

[ocred]

First blood to Rosberg he gets pole for the 11th time this year tomorrow but he has only converted 5 of them into race wins. Hamilton alongside him and won't mind if it stays like that tomorrow. Williams lock out the 2nd row - fantastic season for them.

[SteveB]

First blood to Rosberg he gets pole for the 11th time this year tomorrow but he has only converted 5 of them into race wins. Hamilton alongside him and won't mind if it stays like that tomorrow. Williams lock out the 2nd row - fantastic season for them.

Yes. Rosberg has pole again, but even if he wins, it is unlikely Williams, strong and improved as they are, can stop Hamilton from taking second.
I suspect that all season, Hamilton's car has been set up more for racing than for qualifying.
Rosberg's best chance is that Hamilton has a problem.

[ocred]

Rosberg's best chance is that Hamilton has a problem.

I would think it's his only chance.

[SteveB]

Full Qualifying.

1 6 Nico Rosberg Mercedes
2 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
3 77 Valtteri Bottas Williams-Mercedes
4 19 Felipe Massa Williams-Mercedes
5 3 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing-Renault
6 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault
7 26 Daniil Kvyat STR-Renault
8 22 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
9 7 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari
10 14 Fernando Alonso Ferrari
11 20 Kevin Magnussen McLaren-Mercedes
12 25 Jean-Eric Vergne STR-Renault
13 11 Sergio Perez Force India-Mercedes
14 27 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes
15 99 Adrian Sutil Sauber-Ferrari
16 8 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault
17 21 Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari
18 13 Pastor Maldonado Lotus-Renault
19 10 Kamui Kobayashi Caterham-Renault
20 46 Will Stevens Caterham-Renault

Race tomorrow 13:00

[SteveB]

Return of the flexi-wing controversy. Last minute qualifying problem for Red Bull.

Red Bull have been experts in flexi-wings in the past, used to improve aerodynamics, but the rules have been tightened.
Front wings are now subjected to load tests under which they must flex only a certain amount.
Now, both Red Bull drivers have been relegated to the back of the grid.
The cars were said to be in breach of article 3.15 of the technical regulations.