Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Action

Abu Dhabi is a name synonymous with glamour and prestige in the background of sun, sand and more sand. It is no wonder that when Formula One supremo, Bernie Ecclestone, announced the city would host Formula One in 2009, F1 fans went gaga and for a good reason. It was simply the perfect fusion of thrill, glamour and luxury in one destination.

Getting Abu Dhabi GP Facts Right

If you are an F1 enthusiast, you appreciate the importance of the Yas Marina Circuit on the calendar. Just like in the 2014 calendar, where it brought the curtain down, the circuit will also be the last from November 27^th to 29^th 2015.

Well, there are many other races to cover, but with action already getting spiced up in the trio battle of Sebastian Vettel, Hamilton and Rosberg, why not cool it down with some facts from the Abu Dhabi GP? After all, nothing thrills like watching a fascinating race when you have facts on your fingertips.

1.       Yas Marina, Circuit Details 

The track is 5.554 km in length and drivers lap the track 55 times to cover a race distance of 305.355km. The first race was held in 2009 on the track designed by the legendary Hermann Tilke. It is considered a work of genius and its 21 turns spice up action on race Sunday. 

2.     Track Uniqueness

The 5.554 km track runs in an anti-clockwise direction, and for this reason, it joins few others on the F1 calendar for its uniqueness. But that is not all; it was the first F1 race to be held in the dark. This required special anti-glare floodlights to ensure seamless transition from daylight to darkness. It is no wonder the sophisticated track cost $1 billion U.S. dollars.

3.       Abu Dhabi Winners

In 2009, Sebastian Vettel, who was having a season of a lifetime, won and repeated the feat in 2010 and 2013, and still holds the most wins on the track plus the lap record of 1:40.279 set in 2009. Lewis Hamilton has won twice in 2011 and in 2014 when he wrapped up the championship title race against arch-rival and team-mate Nico Rosberg. Red Bull holds the constructor’s most wins title on the circuit.

4.       Track Difficulty

As a fan, you obviously want the best race action, and with 21 turns to manoeuvre and a possible 320kph maximum speed, you can bet there are lots of thrilling drives at Yas Marina. Add to this the unusual track evolution caused by falling temperatures as the race moves from day to night, a long flat-out section of 1,233m and you get perfect ground for excitement on the track.

Well, you just have to be there to feel the ticking pulse of excitement at Abu Dhabi GP 2015. 

Sepang 2015 Malaysia Grand Prix

At the start of the 2015 Formula One season in Melbourne, Australia, it seemed like all predictions were right; Mercedes W06 was unbeatable. The only question left to answer was who, between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, would bag the Championship title in November.

The Subtle Scuderia Surprise

Well, for Malaysia GP, Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari had a surprise for F1, and boy didn’t they rattle the hornet’s nest! While Hamilton won pole position and was a shoo-in for the top spot on Sunday, Vettel at last got his mojo back and startled Mercedes out of their reverie by winning against both Rosberg and defending champion Hamilton.

Lessons from Sepang, Kuala Lumpur

So, what were the lessons everyone learnt at the Malaysia Grand Prix? Here are a few highlights from the grandstands:

1. Precursor to a Thrilling F1, 2015
Say what you will but the domination by Mercedes and Hamilton was bound to bring back the boring memories of Vettel and Red Bull. Now that the German seems to have gotten his footing, Bernie Ecclestone might have to rethink his pejorative for Vettel as ‘boring’. This guy has just spiced things up and you can bet Mercedes will give all they have.

2. Scuderia have the Pace
At Jerez and later Barcelona, Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen were all smiles. Yes, Kimi the Iceman had a cryptic smile, and Vettel boldly stated the Ferrari SF-15T was a big step forward from the 2014 Red Bull car. Well, it seems James Allison, the technical director, has worked magic on the power unit and chassis that were the downfall for Ferrari in 2014. The pace is real so get ready for more thrilling action.

3. McLaren Have a Tough Long Way
Pundits were quick to argue that McLaren-Honda reunion was on the mend but truth be told, failing to finish a second race for a big team like this portends more heartache to come. Jenson Button, with his Graham Hill-like moustache, and Alonso might try to convince fans that the car is now more consistent, but it might take half a season to really make any impact.

4. The Pecking Order Unfolds
If there were any doubts about who the top dogs in 2015 F1 season were, then Sepang wiped them all. The cars to watch are Mercedes W06, Williams FW37, Ferrari SF-15T and Toro Rosso-Renault STR10. The drivers to follow include Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, Rosberg, Verstappen, Sainz Jr., Bottas and Felipe Massa.

There are other revelations including the exciting arrival of Max Verstappen, who finished in points, Red Bull’s nasty fight with engine supplier Renault, which is a bad omen for Ricciardo, and much more.

Truthfully, you just have to hail the Malaysia Grand Prix which, as usual, did not fail to provide knife-edge thrilling drives this year.