Official 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[Piginapoke]

After a long, and very good, season here we are, for the last stop in Abu Dhabi. All change please.

This will all be about Ferrari vs McLaren for the Constructors’ Championship. It will be close but I expect McLaren to do enough to win its first WCC since 1998, when Mika Häkkinen also won the WDC. An amazing improvement which I think has been a little under recognised.

Ocon will be swapped out for Doohan for this race (delayed punishment for Monaco?) and Hamilton could really use showing Ferrari something positive before next year. This will likely be Perez' last race in F1.

Thanks to all for your contributions and votes through the year, as always it’s great to share opinions with our little band who share a love for the sport (even if some are ridiculous ).

Here’s to a great race.

Date(s): Friday 6 December to Sunday 8 December 2024.

UK Broadcast Timings (and track time)

All sessions are live on Sky F1. Channel 4 is showing highlights of Qualifying and the Race.





2023 Highlights:

https://youtu.be/9Z6rtYo1qBU?si=M2hb3Gf6O7dyUHdo

Tyres:

Soft compounds C3-C5



2023 Result:

Edited by Piginapoke on Monday 2nd December 09:49

Edited by Piginapoke on Monday 2nd December 16:34

[Still Mulling]

Thanks, PiaP! I've hugely appreciated your continued dedication to these threads. If I could buy you a beer/coffee, I would!

[Leithen]

Slow stuff should suit the Ferraris slightly more? If so can the McLarens stay close enough to stay ahead in the WCC? Merc and Verstappen to cock things up for them? Anyone done the maths?

[Jasandjules]

Thanks for the work to start the threads PIAP.

After yesterday I am losing the will to care about Abu Dhabi....

[BrettMRC]

I think we'll see a Norris win.

Prediction for me is:

Norris, Sainz, Piastri, Verstappen, LeClerc, Russel, Hamilton

Perez to somehow bin it into the medical car on the formation lap.

Finally, Mr Poke - thank you again for the best threads of the year!

[moffspeed]

Jasandjules said:

Thanks for the work to start the threads PIAP.

After yesterday I am losing the will to care about Abu Dhabi....

Thanks PiaP.

If only this season had started in Australia in March, finished in Brazil early November and side-stepped Miami.

Less work for you and a great 17 race calendar.

However the future will likely feature the emergence of the likes of Rwanda as GP hosts and circuits like Spa & Monza rotating in and out of the calendar.

Follow the money and add in a touch of sportswashing. Oh well….

[thegreenhell]

Difficult to predict how the FIA will try to interfere with the result of this one.

Also, as a C4 viewer, we have to put up with Steve Jones calling it Aboo Derby all weekend.

[Leithen]

An overdue thank you PiaP too!!

[parabolica]

On Wednesday I get on a plane with my dad as we have hospitality tickets for the 3 days + pitlane access on the Thursday - looking forward to it! Also comes with access to a bunch of attractions around the circuit. Really no idea what to expect from the hospitality but we'll see; it overlooks the hairpin so will hopefully see some action.

[Piginapoke]

parabolica said:

On Wednesday I get on a plane with my dad as we have hospitality tickets for the 3 days + pitlane access on the Thursday - looking forward to it! Also comes with access to a bunch of attractions around the circuit. Really no idea what to expect from the hospitality but we'll see; it overlooks the hairpin so will hopefully see some action.

I imagine it will be bloody fantastic!

[K50 DEL]

parabolica said:

On Wednesday I get on a plane with my dad as we have hospitality tickets for the 3 days + pitlane access on the Thursday - looking forward to it! Also comes with access to a bunch of attractions around the circuit. Really no idea what to expect from the hospitality but we'll see; it overlooks the hairpin so will hopefully see some action.

Don't expect too much from the Thursday pitlane, I traipsed up from DXB where I was living back in 2011 (the first AUH GP I attended) and never bothered with the Thursday again! no team staff, no drivers, nothing interesting to see and kept well away from the actual garages.

Your hospitality spot however is awesome and you'll have a blast.
Depending on whereabouts on the hairpin you are the outside will be in full sun for the practise sessions and it will be hot - think sun cream, hats and glasses.

Attractions around the circuit are few and far between, also distances are deceptive, there is a circuit circular bus but it doesn't have dedicated lanes so pre/post quali and race will be crazy busy.

Enjoy - I made the decision not to go this year and am regretting it a bit now!

[Mark-C]

Thanks PIAP - now go and have a lie down until March ... unless you're doing a thread for testing in February! The thread starting posts are always informative and I often refer back during the weekend.

And thanks everyone else for (mostly) making this a great place to follow a race weekend

I've gone for a Russell win because I reckon McLaren and Ferrari will spend the weekend trying to cover each other off and will fluff a few decisions.

[dom9]

Hamilton to go out (of Merc) on a high... come on Lewis!

[Supersam83]

Does anyone know if Ocon will be in the Haas for this race with Jack Doohan taking Ocon's place at Alpine?

[vaud]

Supersam83 said:

Does anyone know if Ocon will be in the Haas for this race with Jack Doohan taking Ocon's place at Alpine?

Ocon is out

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13264472/e...

[Piginapoke]

Supersam83 said:

Does anyone know if Ocon will be in the Haas for this race with Jack Doohan taking Ocon's place at Alpine?

No- Ocon will test for Haas after the GP

[Piginapoke]

Still Mulling said:

Thanks, PiaP! I've hugely appreciated your continued dedication to these threads. If I could buy you a beer/coffee, I would!

[paulguitar]

Thank you, Mr. Poke. We all love these threads.

[Altrezia]

dom9 said:

Hamilton to go out (of Merc) on a high... come on Lewis!

Would love to see it... but not going to happen is it.

[oyster]

A Lewis/Max battle would be great wouldn’t it?

Plus, with Red Bull now out of the hunt for the WCC, we’ll see if Perez’s performance improves to validate the conspiracy theorists view that it’s deliberate. I suspect we’ll see continued poor form.