F1 - Abu Dhabi Qualifying ONE HD 23:20 AEDT 3 Nov 2012

[gary]

Vettel has set the fastest time in P2, followed by Hamilton only 0.168 seconds behind.
Next fastest times were set by Button and Webber.

Alonso and Massa were down in 7th and 8th, behind the two Lotus-Renaults.

Q1 starts at midnight tonight AEDT (NSW, Vic, Tas) with the pre-race show starting
at 23:20 AEDT on ONE HD.

The race coverage itself will be on Sunday night on TEN starting with the
pre-race show at 23:30 AEDT and the race itself starting at midnight.

In Abu Dhabi itself the qualifying session and race begins at 17:00 Abu Dhabi time
and as regular F1 viewers know, they begin before sunset and drive into the night.

Ranked by Fortune magazine as the richest city in the world, where else but Abu
Dhabi would one have "Ferrari World", the world's largest indoor theme park?

At least when you take the kids to DIsneyland in Aneheim, they come away happy with
just a pair of mouse ears. What they might wish for after a trip to Ferrari World,
one can only imagine. :lol:

Image copyright Google.

[04Stefan07]

Come on Alonso get in either row 1 or 2 for quali!

[gary]

Hamilton looking very strong on poll
Webber P2
Vettel P3 ...

... Vettel ordered to stop the car on the track. Fuel or car problem?
Will he receive a penalty? ...

Alonso down in P7

[gary]

Vettel did not have sufficient fuel in the car and has received a penalty
and will start at the back of the grid.

[04Stefan07]

20mins until race!

[gary]

Close call for Karthikeyan!

[04Stefan07]

Very! Stupid move by vettel, passing off the circuit. Smart to give the position back instead of fighting for it.

Come on alonso we need some points!!

[04Stefan07]

Hamilton out!!! :).

I hope kimi wins, more points for alonso :)

[Astro_Bot]

So cruel. Electronics cut out, they think, without warning. He had it in the bag.

Webber spins after touching Maldarnardo and loses three places. Vettel in 8th up from 19th. Raikonen leading. Interesting race!

Edit: Now Massa and Webber clash and Massa spins!

[Astro_Bot]

The crash with Rosberg was spectacular!

[04Stefan07]

Kimi leading from alonso.

Vettel pits early as the tires will not last the rest of the race.

[gary]

Really bad luck for Hamilton

When you consider he has started from the back of the pack twice,
Vettel's drive has been extraordinary.

But he pits now!

[Astro_Bot]

Yes, 19th to 2nd is amazing. Now in 4th.

Webber out! Grosjean involved. Edit: Seems the stewards have decided it was Perez' fault.

[gary]

What an extraordinary race! It's got everything.

[Astro_Bot]

This is the most captivating race of the season. I'm glued to the screen.

[04Stefan07]

So over this coverage, 6-7 ads. Worst coverage ever!

[Astro_Bot]

They seem to push the ads harder on TEN compared to ONE. It annoys me, too.

[Astro_Bot]

Vettel up to 3rd! Edit: Pitt lane to podium - heck of a race.

Congrats to Lotus and Raikkonen.

And thanks for your company, gentlemen.

[gary]

Best race of the year.

Fabulous drive by the iceman. (I know what I am doing :lol:)

Incredible to see that Lotus, Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull battle at the end.

Onto Texas. Looks like it might be an exciting circuit.

[goober]

You have to love Kimi, but Seb was amazing.

Texas looks great, love a little elevation change on a circuit, and that straight is a monster.

[gary]

That whole quote -

"Kimi keep working all four tyres".

"Yes yes yes I know what I am doing".

[gary]

Good morning Doug,

Yes, it looks like a layout of Bahrain mixed with Turkey mixed with Korea. :)

[MikeyB]

What a great outcome - thoughout the final laps, I was jumping off the sofa yelling "C'mon Kimi!" Both Alonso and Vettel showed in their different ways why they each have a solid claim to the WDC this year, IMHO. Webber looked like he'd reverted to Formula Ford with his weak attempt on Maldonado (which left him out of position and later vulnerable to Perez' kamikaze move), and his incident that caused Massa to spin was comedy gold!

Meanwhile in the Toro Rosso duo, Ricciardo showed off his rapidly increasing racecraft to claim another WDC point, while his teammate's docile 'stepping aside' for Schumacher showed the opposite. Lastly, Vettel's f-bomb on the podium was totally uncalled for, even if it was Coulthard doing the interviewing.

It was an enthralling race from start to finish, with the 'reverse grid' effect of Vettels demotion meaning there was always something exciting happening somewhere in the field. What a season we're having!

[goober]

To me it's a mix of Silverstone and Suzuka, followed by Korea's massive straight, ending in multi-apex Turkey-esque corners for sector 3. A fun drive :)

[Manav]

Awesome race! Best of the year with non stop action. Well done Kimi :)