Abu Dhabi GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX - RACE

    As the 2016 season came to a close, one thing was on everyone's minds. Rosberg or Hamilton? Who would take home the 2016 Championship Title? It had come down to the final race, under the lights of Yas Marina Circuit and the crowds were filled with emotions and nerves.

    Lewis Hamilton was on Pole Position, but knew it would take more than just winning the race to grab the title. Rosberg knew all he had to do was finish on the podium if Hamilton won the race. With Rosberg starting 2nd, his chances were high.

    It was a fairly clean lap one apart from a few mishaps at the back of the pack. Kevin Magnussen was the first to retire from the race with a steering issue after damage to his car. Not the way he'd wanted to finish the season. The Dane heads to Haas next year, bidding farewell to the Renault Sport team.

    Ricciardo, who had started from 3rd, found himself being pushed back as other drivers passed by, including Vettel and Raikkonen. Raikkonen quickly moved towards both Mercedes drivers and even challenged Rosberg for a moment. 

    Valtteri Bottas was the next driver to end the season on a low, retiring with suspension damage from a bump on the surface of the circuit that he'd hit. Team-mate, Felipe Massa, who leaves F1, finished the race in 9th, grabbing his final 2 Championship points in the sport. Jenson Button, who is also leaving F1, retired with suspension damage as well while his team-mate, Alonso, finished in 10th to take the final point.

    Max Verstappen, who was spun early on in the opening laps, was making his way back towards the front, doing what he could to find enough speed to look for a spot on the podium to end his first season with Red Bull on a high. 

    Both Toro Rosso drivers retired from the race with gearbox problems. Kvyat easily pulled his limping car over to the side of the circuit before hopping out while Sainz's retirement came later after Palmer crashed into the back of him and sent him into a spin. Sainz managed one more lap before he realized the car wasn't going to make it any further.

    It was a quiet race for Force India with both Perez and Hulkenberg easily making their way around the circuit and staying in the top 10. The team finished 4th in the constructors, 35 points ahead of Williams. Perez finished the race in 8th and Hulkenberg in 7th, bringing them a final helping of 10 points.

    While neither Sauber or Manor scored any points, it was Sauber who secured 10th in the standings after Felipe Nasr scored 2 points for the team at his home grand prix in Brazil. Nasr does not yet have a seat for 2017, while team-mate, Ericsson has been confirmed to stay with the Swiss team. 

    American team Haas, saw both drivers finish outside of the points but finish 8th in the constructors with a total of 29 points, all scored by Romain Grosjean, who will remain with the team in 2017. Gutierrez, who had multiple mechanical failures and near-point finishes, has not yet announced his plans for next year.

    Up at the front, Hamilton was still leading the way, while Rosberg charged after him. Hamilton began to try other tactics, even slowing down to push Rosberg closer to Vettel and Verstappen, who were trying to pass the Championship contender. Hamilton went as far as ignoring team orders at an attempt to get the title, but in the end, Rosberg managed to steer clear of both the Ferrari and the Red Bull and finished 2nd, taking his first F1 Championship. Hamilton won the race while Sebastian Vettel grabbed the final podium spot, in 3rd.

    Rosberg was ecstastic over the radio, cheering and yelling as his team and wife, Vivian, congratulated him. Rosberg and his father, Keke, are now only the second father-son duo to have F1 Championship titles after the Hills.

    With the 2016 season now over, many changes will be seen in 2017, including new rules, wider tyres and a group of new, young drivers ready to break onto the scene and try for a chance at points, podiums and wins. 

RESULTS:

1. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain / + 25 Points

2. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany / + 18 Points

3. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany / + 15 Points

4. Max Verstappen / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER / Netherlands / + 12 Points

5. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER / Australia / + 10 Points

6. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland / + 8 Points

7. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany / + 6 Points

8. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico / + 4 Points

9. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil / + 2 Points

10. Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain / + 1 Point

11. Romain Grosjean / Haas-Ferrari / France 

12. Esteban Gutierrez / Haas-Ferrari / Mexico

13. Esteban Ocon / Manor-Mercedes / France

14. Pascal Wehrlein / Manor-Mercedes / Germany

15. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden

16. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil

17. Jolyon Palmer / Renault-Renault / Great Britain

RETIRED - Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Spain / Gearbox

RETIRED - Daniil Kvyat / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Russia / Gearbox

RETIRED - Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain / Suspension Failure

RETIRED - Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland / Suspension Failure

RETIRED - Kevin Magnussen / Renault-Renault / Denmark / Steering Damage

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Abu Dhabi GP: Qualifying - Re-Cap & Results

ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX - QUALIFYING 

    Lewis Hamilton will start the final race of the year from Pole Position with Nico Rosberg right beside him. No changes to the grid post-qualifying as no penalties were taken.

HOW IT WORKS:

Q1 = 18 minutes. All cars allowed to go out. At the end of the session, the six slowest are eliminated.

Q2 = 15 minutes. The remaining cars go out. At the end of the session, the six slowest are eliminated.

Q3 = 12 minutes. Final 10 cars go out. The final order at the end of the session is how the grid will line up. Fastest car starts from Pole Position.

GRID LINE-UP

1. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain

2. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany

3. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER / Australia

4. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland

5. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany

6. Max Verstappen / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER / Netherlands

7. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany

8. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico

9. Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain

10. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil

11. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland

12. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain

13. Esteban Gutierrez / Haas-Ferrari / Mexico

14. Romain Grosjean / Haas-Ferrari / France

15. Jolyon Palmer / Renault-Renault / Great Britain

16. Pascal Wehrlein / Manor-Mercedes / Germany

17. Daniil Kvyat / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Russia

18. Kevin Magnussen / Renault-Renault / Denmark

19. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil

20. Esteban Ocon / Manor-Mercedes / France

21. Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Spain

22. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden

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Abu Dhabi GP: Free Practice 3 - Re-Cap & Times

ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX - FREE PRACTICE #3

    It was neither Hamilton or Rosberg at the top of the standings at the end of the last free practice session of the weekend. It was Sebastian Vettel who finished in 1st with a fastest time of 1:40.775. Max Verstappen was close behind in the Red Bull with a 1:40.912. Raikkonen, Hamilton and Rosberg completed the top 5.

    Lewis Hamilton reported a loss of power at the beginning of the session, but the team assured him there was no huge issue. Hamilton topped both FP1 and FP2 and has done what he can to narrow the points gap in the last few races. 

    Nico Hulkenberg missed part of the session due to a Fuel System issue, but when he was able to get out, he wasted no time in getting those times out and finished in 8th with a 1:42.067. Team-mate, Sergio Perez, finished in 7th with a 1:41.885.

TIMES:

1. Sebastian Vettel - 1:40.775 / Ferrari-Ferrari

2. Max Verstappen - 1:40.912 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER

3. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:40.999 / Ferrari-Ferrari

4. Lewis Hamilton - 1:41.065 / Mercedes-Mercedes

5. Nico Rosberg - 1:41.168 / Mercedes-Mercedes

6. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:41.831 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER

7. Sergio Perez - 1:41.885 / Force India-Mercedes

8. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:42.067 / Force India-Mercedes

9. Valtteri Bottas - 1:42.076 / Williams-Mercedes

10. Esteban Gutierrez - 1:42.354 / Haas-Ferrari

11. Fernando Alonso - 1:42.585 / McLaren-Honda

12. Jolyon Palmer - 1:42.616 / Renault-Renault

13. Jenson Button - 1:42.664 / McLaren-Honda

14. Felipe Massa - 1:42.683 / Williams-Mercedes

15. Romain Grosjean - 1:42.805 / Haas-Ferrari

16. Kevin Magnussen - 1:43.057 / Renault-Renault

17. Pascal Wehrlein - 1:43.145 / Manor-Mercedes

18. Carlos Sainz - 1:43.301 / Toro Rosso-Ferrari

19. Felipe Nasr - 1:43.417 / Sauber-Ferrari

20. Esteban Ocon - 1:43.733 / Manor-Mercedes

21. Daniil Kvyat - 1:44.105 / Toro Rosso-Ferrari

22. Marcus Ericsson - 1:44.238 / Sauber-Ferrari

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Obrigado Massa

#ObrigadoMassa

    Like so many Formula One drivers, Felipe Massa’s time in F1 will probably be left to the history books. He hasn’t taken a championship, dominated a team, or stood out much for the majority of his fourteen years in F1. But Massa leaving the series will truly be an end of an era, and it might not be something everyone understands. We say “obrigado Massa”, but do we really know why?

    For many, Massa represents the passion for Formula One that fans want the sport to return to. Though he may not have gone through his fourteen years in F1 without any spats, the Brazilian has captured the hearts of fans across the globe. He, along with Jenson Button, is F1’s “nice guy”. Losing the Brazilian from the paddock next year, as well as Button, could make for a very different atmosphere.

    Obrigado Massa for bringing the passion that makes fans love F1.

    Since his first season in 2002, Massa has driven for three teams. Like many rookies, he started his career in a midfield team: Sauber-Pertronas. Though he might not have been regularly beating his more experienced teammate, Nick Heidfeld, in his rookie year, Massa wasn’t usually far behind the German. It wasn’t enough to impress Sauber enough to keep him in F1 in 2003, when he went to Ferrari as a test driver, but he did return to complete two more seasons for the team in 2004 and 2005.

    Ferrari will be where most fans will remember him from, and it’s the Italian team that probably have the most to thank Massa for. The Brazilian drove for the team for eight years, and spent five of those years as the infamous second driver. Paired up with Michael Schumacher, Massa made an amazing support driver for the German’s final year at Ferrari, and took his first Formula One win in Turkey that year. In 2007 and 2008, Massa had a chance to come into his own, not exactly a second driver to his new teammate, Kimi Raikkonen, but bad luck followed the Brazilian and, despite six wins in eighteen races in 2008, he could only manage second in the championship, finishing one point behind eventual champion Lewis Hamilton, in one of the most emotional podiums in recent times.

    When Fernando Alonso joined Ferrari in 2010, Massa fell back into the second driver role, resulting in the now iconic but heart breaking radio message – Fernando is faster than you – and multiple team orders that, some argue, stopped Massa from the success he deserved. Eventually, in 2014, the Brazilian switched to Williams, where he’ll end his career. Williams in 2014 was revitalised after a long, difficult period, and Massa mirrored that, apparently more respected and free in the British team. 2014 gave new hope that Williams and Massa might be able to take second in the championship in 2015 after a strong season. Sadly, it would never come, as the team lagged behind the progress of those around them over the next two years.

    Obrigado Massa for helping fans of three teams taste relative success.

    2009 will be a season that stands out for Massa fans, though not for happy reasons. Qualifying at the Hungaroring took a turn for the worst in the second session. Debris from a car ahead hit the Brazilian only an inch above his left eye whilst he was traveling and over 160 mile per hour, knocking him unconscious.

    For a while after the accident, Massa’s fate was unknown. He was known to be in a life-threatening condition in hospital and for a small while fans, though hopeful, feared the worst. Thankfully, Massa’s condition would rapidly improve, and he was released from hospital the following week, but he wouldn’t return to F1 until 2010. The Brazilian has no memory of the accident, but his family – including his then pregnant wife – and his friends certainly do. The accident helped bring the focus back to safety in F1, and to strengthen the parts of the helmet weaker than the main shell.

    Obrigado Massa for returning to F1 after the accident, and for – though not entirely voluntarily – helping to push forward the drive for safety.

    Any article on Massa’s career wouldn’t be complete without mention of a Brit from Middlesbrough. Rob Smedley joined F1 back in 2001, but he gained fame in 2006 when he joined the main Ferrari team as Massa’s race engineer. The two were – and still are – obviously close, and Smedley has been part of some of the most famous moments of Massa’s career and made F1 seem more “human” for many fans: the celebrations following Massa’s first win in 2006, the endearing nicknames, Smedley’s insistence that he doesn’t know Massa “in the biblical sense”. But Smedley has seen the lows as well as the highs. The team orders at Ferrari were delivered by Smedley. The loss of the championship in 2008 left the Brit in tears. And Smedley is the one most asked about the 2009 accident.

    Obrigado Massa for being part of the most heart warming friendship in F1 in recent times.

    And, to finish, a personal obrigado to Felipe Massa. My life is motorsport dominated, both as a journalist and a fan, and I was introduced to the sport in 2008. The first race I ever watched was late in November of that year. Brazil. I don’t remember much of the race itself, but I remember the podium. It’s the image so many will remember of Massa: an emotional, short man, dressed head to toe in red atop the podium in front of his home crowd. An image of humility… passion… raw emotion. That is the reason I fell in love with Formula One.

    This weekend will mark the end of an era in Formula One, and in my own life. So obrigado Massa.

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Article Written By: Bethonie Waring
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Abu Dhabi GP: Free Practice 2 - Re-Cap & Times

ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX - FREE PRACTICE #2

    It was sun down and lights on for the second practice session at Yas Marina Circuit and it was Lewis Hamilton who took the top spot with a fastest time of 1:40.861. Rosberg was once again close behind in 2nd with a 1:40.940. Vettel, Verstappen and Ricciardo completed the top 5.

    Daniil Kvyat suffered another puncture and it was session over for him. The FIA got involved into the investigation behind his 2 punctures over the course of the day and both cars were looked over by mechanics for most of the session.

    Romain Grosjean suffered a huge spin but still managed to keep the car out of the barriers and set the 14th fastest time, a 1:43.108. Gutierrez, his team-mate, who will not be with Haas in 2017, finished the session in 13th, just ahead of Grosjean, with a 1:43.012.

    Jenson Button continued to miss out with his continuing ERS issue but eventually was able to set a time good enough for 12th, a 1:42.823. Fernando Alonso ended the session in 11th with a 1:42.366. This weekend will be Button's last F1 race, while Alonso insists he will remain in F1 until he wins a 3rd title.

    Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Ocon returned to their respective cars after making way for Alonso Celis Jr. and Jordan King in FP1.     

TIMES:

1. Lewis Hamilton - 1:40.861 / Mercedes-Mercedes

2. Nico Rosberg - 1:40.940 / Mercedes-Mercedes

3. Sebastian Vettel - 1:41.130 / Ferrari-Ferrari

4. Max Verstappen - 1:41.389 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER

5. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:41.390 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER

6. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:41.464 / Ferrari-Ferrari

7. Valtteri Bottas - 1:41.959 / Williams-Mercedes

8. Sergio Perez - 1:42.041 / Force India-Mercedes

9. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:42.264 / Force India-Mercedes

10. Felipe Massa - 1:42.268 / Williams-Mercedes

11. Fernando Alonso - 1:42.366 / McLaren-Honda

12. Jenson Button - 1:42.823 / McLaren-Honda

13. Esteban Gutierrez - 1:43.012 / Haas-Ferrari

14. Romain Grosjean - 1:43.108 / Haas-Ferrari

15. Jolyon Palmer - 1:43.272 / Renault-Renault

16. Esteban Ocon - 1:43.600 / Manor-Mercedes

17. Pascal Wehrlein - 1:43.754 / Manor-Mercedes

18. Felipe Nasr - 1:43.903 / Sauber-Ferrari

19. Marcus Ericsson - 1:44.045 / Sauber-Ferrari

20. Kevin Magnussen - 1:44.117 / Renault-Renault

21. Carlos Sainz - 1:44.478 / Toro Rosso-Ferrari

22. Daniil Kvyat - 1:45.948 / Toro Rosso-Ferrari

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Abu Dhabi GP: Free Practice 1 - Re-Cap & Times

ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX - FREE PRACTICE #1

    The last race weekend of the season has gotten underway in Abu Dhabi and it was Lewis Hamilton that took hold of the top spot in the first practice session, leading the way with a 1:42.869. Nico Rosberg was close behind with a 1:43.243. Verstappen, Ricciardo and Vettel completed the top 5.

    Force India had Alfonso Celis Jr. replacing Nico Hulkenberg for the session while at Manor, Jordan King filled in for Esteban Ocon. Ocon replaces Hulkenberg at Force India in 2017 when Hulkenberg heads to Renault to partner Jolyon Palmer.

    Multiple drivers dealt with huge spins during the session. Including; Massa, King and and Kvyat. Kvyat's spin however, was caused by a puncture and was not the only puncture he had during Friday's sessions.

    Jenson Button suffered from an ERS issue and missed most of the session but still finished in 20th with a time of 1:47.127, Team-mate, Fernando Alonso, finished in 18th with a 1:46.379.

    Improvements in Sauber's pace as Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr finished the session inside the top 15 with Ericsson in 10th with a 1:45.168 and Nasr in 13th with a 1:45.778.

TIMES:

1. Lewis Hamilton - 1:42.869 / Mercedes-Mercedes
2. Nico Rosberg - 1:43.243 / Mercedes-Mercedes
3. Max Verstappen - 1:43.297 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER
4. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:43.362 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER
5. Sebastian Vettel - 1:44.005 / Ferrari-Ferrari
6. Sergio Perez - 1:44.155 / Force India-Mercedes
7. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:44.556 / Ferrari-Ferrari
8. Carlos Sainz - 1:44.685 / Toro Rosso-Ferrari
9. Felipe Massa - 1:45.039 / Williams-Mercedes
10. Marcus Ericsson - 1:45.168 / Sauber-Ferrari
11. Alfonso Celis Jr. - 1:45.476 / Force India-Mercedes*
12. Romain Grosjean - 1:45.600 / Haas-Ferrari
13. Felipe Nasr - 1:45.778 / Sauber-Ferrari
14. Esteban Gutierrez - 1:45.925 / Haas-Ferrari
15. Valtteri Bottas - 1:45.940 / Williams-Mercedes
16. Jolyon Palmer - 1:46.219 / Renault-Renault
17. Kevin Magnussen - 1:46.372 / Renault-Renault
18. Fernando Alonso - 1:46.379 / McLaren-Honda
19. Pascal Wehrlein - 1:46.458 / Manor-Mercedes
20. Jenson Button - 1:47.127 / McLaren-Honda
21. Jordan King - 1:47.558 / Manor-Mercedes*
22. Daniil Kvyat - 2:01.989 / Toro Rosso-Ferrari

* - Driving in FP1 only
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Article Written By: Amy Hawk
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Ericsson Confirmed At Sauber For 2017

ERICSSON TO REMAIN AT SAUBER IN 2017

    Marcus Ericsson is set to continue for a third year at Sauber F1 team, having signed an extension of his contract. Sauber are yet to sign their second driver, but they’re expected to also keep Brazilian Felipe Nasr for a third season.

    Since gaining a new ownership back in July, Sauber have been in a significantly better financial state, but were still looking for drivers with financial backing for next season. Coupling that with his experience, Ericsson was deemed the perfect fit by the team.

    “During the current season Marcus has again showed he is willing to go that extra mile in order to make progress,” Team Principal Monisha Kaltenborn said. “He went through very difficult times with us, but managed those very well… He is not only a good driver, but also an important team player who understand how to work with the team and how to motivate everyone with his positive attitude.”

    Ericsson says he is happy to be staying with the team, and believes Sauber will be improving over the coming years. Having only just scored their first point of the season at the last round in Brazil, improvements are a must if they want to be competitive next season.

    “I have developed a lot as a driver during my time at Sauber,” Ericsson said. “We have had ups and downs, but we always stick together and work as hard as we can. Since the new ownership, there has been a positive push in the team, so it will also be exciting to go into this new era. Many motorsports experts are becoming part of Sauber, which is a good sign for the future.”

    The Swede’s aim for next season is regular points finishes and a midfield fight. Given that Ericsson is yet to score this season, regular points might be a high aim.

    There are now only three seats to be announced: The remaining Sauber seat and the 2 seats at Manor, which are likely to go to Wehrlein and Gutierrez while Nasr remains at Sauber with Ericsson.

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Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Force India

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - SAHARA FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM

Sergio Perez - “It’s the final race of the year and you really want to close the season with a good result. It’s an exciting time and you need to keep focused on the job even though everyone is already talking about the following season. You want to finish the year well to go on holiday with a sweet taste in your mouth, especially this year when there is so much at stake. Nobody wants to have a bad final race; it’s a pretty nasty feeling!

Abu Dhabi is a cool place and the fans we meet come from all over the world. The facilities at the track are impressive and I’ve always liked racing there. It’s a very fast track, with big braking zones and quick changes of direction. You need a car that is very stable at the rear to make the most of the braking zones. Also, having good traction out of the corners can gain you a lot of time. There are some overtaking opportunities and the possibility to go for different strategies usually produces interesting races.

Last year’s race was pretty exciting - fighting for the podium against the Ferraris. Even though we fell short, it was a very good race and hopefully we can have another strong weekend after Brazil. You always get a bit nostalgic at the end of the season. You know it’s the last time you’re going to drive your VJM09 and you don’t know what the next season will bring. I want to go into the winter with special memories from the final race.”

Nico Hulkenberg - “The final race of the season is always special, but this year even more so. It will be my final race with the team, so it will be emotional to work with the crew and the other team members for one last time. People move around teams a lot in Formula One, so I know it’s a goodbye and not a farewell. I want to enjoy this last race together and make sure it turns into a celebration: I want us to confirm fourth place in the championship, then we will see a lot of big smiles on everyone’s faces and be proud of what we achieved together.

Abu Dhabi is a very cool place. Yas Marina is very modern and the circuit has probably the best facilities of the whole calendar. The track is not bad either and it’s fun to drive. You race into the sunset and it looks really cool when all the lights come on. It’s a unique experience.

The pit lane exit is very tricky and one of the most memorable parts of the circuit: you release the pit limiter, accelerate for a second and then you have to brake for the very sharp left hander underneath the track. The wall feels very close and you always hold your breath every time you drive through that narrow exit! It’s a little uncomfortable because as soon as you push harder, you start to slide and it’s very easy to get it wrong.

Looking at the track characteristics, Abu Dhabi should suit us really well. We had a few strong results in the last few years and I am confident we can get a good one this time around too. I would love nothing more than to sign off from the team in style.”

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Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO F1 TEAM

Carlos Sainz - “Wow, it's already the last race of the season, it's unbelievable how quickly the year has gone by! I'm keen to have some holidays now but I know already that after a couple of weekends without a race I will want to be back on track!

But now, let's make the most out of this final race weekend. It's not over yet! What I like about Abu Dhabi being in November is that it's like travelling back to the summer for a week - back home it's cold and nearly Christmas, so I enjoy a week of sun and heat in the middle of winter!

What I also like is the fact that it's a twilight race - we start when the sun is still out and then it gets darker and darker while we're racing, it's cool! Nice for overtaking, yes! And I have to say it's a cool race weekend in general, it's one I enjoy!”

Daniil Kvyat - "It's not the most thrilling of tracks, as many of the corners are very similar, but it's still a pleasant one to drive with a scenic backdrop. It's a circuit that's good for racing also because it's got two good DRS zones.

I've just remembered! Here (pointing at the space in between Turns 17-20) there's a very good restaurant - you could wave to the people while they're having dinner! The colour of the sun in the Middle East is really lovely - sort of orange - at that time of day. Our photographer friends can get really nice photos."

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
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Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Haas

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - HAAS F1 TEAM

Romain Grosjean - “It’s just a great venue. The race starts in the day and finishes in the night. You have sundown in the middle of the race, which is fun. The paddock is amazing. The atmosphere is always good, and you know you’re on holiday after the race as it’s the last one of the season. I’ll still be pushing one last time, though.

Generally, it’s a low-speed corner circuit. The only high-speed corners are Turns 2 and 3. Normally they’re taken flat - easy flat in qualifying. The track has some long straight lines, but you mainly want to focus on getting the low-speed corners correct, especially through the last sector. That’s what you have to focus on in Abu Dhabi.

Race day’s not too bad the way it (the cooling track) changes during the Grand Prix. It’s more in between FP1 and FP2, then FP3 and qualifying, where you’re out at two different times of the day. You have a big difference in track temperature and car behaviour. That’s something you need to keep in mind. We don’t have any data from the past. We won’t know what we’re doing in advance between FP3 and qualifying in terms of aero balance and setting up the car. These are things we have to find
out for ourselves when we get there.

I won there in GT1 (in 2010 with Matech Competition). That was my first-ever GT World Championship start, and the first race with that team, and we won. It was a pretty good moment taking the win and leading the championship.”

Esteban Gutierrez - “It’s luxurious and it’s modern. It’s an incredible track. There was a lot of investment in it. Every time you get there it’s like a whole different world, like a Disneyland more or less. It’s nice to get there and have the last race of the season in Abu Dhabi.
You have to compromise in the first sector, which is mainly about high-speed corners. Then you have sectors two and three, which are about straight line speed and braking into chicanes and slow-speed corners. You have to manage the tyres, and that’s the most challenging part.

Once you are into the race, it (the track) doesn’t really change much. It changes a lot after three or four o’clock and the sun starts to go down and by the time the race starts it’s already on a very good level. Everything is more stable. The temperatures are more stable, the tyres are working better and, usually, you can manage them better by not overheating them.

You just have to consider how the balance of the car is going to evolve during the race. Basically, what’s the plan going to be in terms of changing the car balance a little bit through the race with the front wing and with all the tools we have in the car.”

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Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Williams

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - WILLIAMS MARTINI RACING

Valtteri Bottas - “Abu Dhabi is a nice place to finish the Formula One season. The facilities are great there and it seems like more and more people come to this race every year. It’s the place where I had my first ever Formula One test in 2011. It’s a good track for racing and it looks very cool with the sunset. We ended the 2014 season there with a double podium so it would be nice to finish this season with another strong result. Normally it’s a good track for our car because of the long straights and short corners and chicanes, so I look forward to it.”

Felipe Massa - “It’s going to be another emotional one! You try not think about it too much when you’re in the car, you just try to do as good a job as you can. It’s a really nice track to drive, there are lots of fans who really enjoy themselves at the track and outside of the track and it is, of course, a twilight race which is interesting for us and everyone watching. I really hope the final, and 250th race of my Formula One career, can be a fantastic one. We will of course have a big party! Hopefully we can celebrate with a great result."

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Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Sauber

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - SAUBER F1 TEAM

Marcus Ericsson - “With the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix we approach the season finale. It is hard to believe that we have now reached round 21 - time really flies. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is always a nice race weekend. Besides enjoying driving on this circuit a lot, the fan atmosphere and the events around the track are great. It will be an exciting weekend, as not only will the world champion be crowned, but we will also fight again for our tenth position in the constructors’ championship.”

Felipe Nasr - “After my great result at my home Grand Prix in Brazil, I am traveling to Abu Dhabi with a positive mindset. I enjoy being there, as I always receive a warm welcome and a lot of support, both in the UAE and the whole of the Middle East, because of my family’s Lebanese roots. The food is really amazing, but I also like the people, their traditions, and their cultures. The season is not over yet, so our objective is clearly to keep our current position in the standings.”

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Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Mercedes

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS FORMULA 1 TEAM

Nico Rosberg - “Obviously, the result in Brazil wasn't the one I was going for. But Lewis did a great job and second place wasn't a disaster in the end. I'm looking forward now to Abu Dhabi. It feels great to be in the World Championship battle with Lewis for a third year in a row. I will give it everything to end the season with a win. I've had a great week, relaxing and catching up with my family and friends, so I feel like I'm in a good place. In Brazil, after the race, I was joking that I would still be taking things one race at a time. But, the more I think about it, the more that's actually not as crazy as it sounds. I have to treat this like any other race. Doing a good job on a Grand Prix weekend is always a challenge. Nothing in this sport is easy, so this won't be any different and I still have to go all out for a good result. I have great memories from winning at this track last year and it's somewhere I've usually been strong in the past, so I have every reason to feel confident. The closer it gets, the more I'm feeling excited. It will be a big battle and hopefully the fans will get a great show to end the year.”

Lewis Hamilton - “To finally win in Brazil was a moment I'll never forget. It had been a long time coming. I'm in a good place right now. I'm feeling super strong in this amazing car that everyone at the factories has worked so hard to give us. I've had 31 wins in four years with this team so far, which is just crazy. I'm so thankful for the great opportunity these guys have given me. We're continuing to make history together. It's not been a perfect season and I'm faced with pretty impossible odds no matter what I do this weekend. But I can't and won't give up. You never know what might happen - however unlikely it may seem. I'll be proud of myself and what I've achieved as long as I feel I've given my all and performed at my best. And, whatever happens, I'm proud of everyone who's been a part of the success we've shared over the past few years. I'm approaching this weekend the same as I do every race. I want to win and I'll give it everything to finish the season on a high.”

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Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - McLaren

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - McLAREN HONDA FORMULA 1 TEAM

Fernando Alonso - “I enjoy racing in Abu Dhabi every year. Not just because it’s become synonymous with the end of the season, but there’s a unique atmosphere there – a combination of the ‘end-of-term’ feeling, anticipation ahead of the winter development push and the buzz from the fans as we go racing for the final time in 2016. From the cockpit, it’s incredible to race at twilight and watch the light fade as you complete lap after lap. It brings a new dimension to the spectacle and makes the whole weekend really enjoyable.

The faster first sector and the two long straights in the middle sector at Yas Marina mean that it isn’t a track that will naturally suit our package, but over the course of Friday we’ll work hard to dial in the car to make the most of what we have and extract as much performance as possible. It’s an interesting track to set the car up for, as although it’s in the desert, the track temperature cools a lot during the course of the race as we reach twilight, so the tyre conditions and grip levels are constantly evolving as we reach the chequered flag. It’s a really unique place and a great circuit to end the season at, and I hope we can push for a positive end to the year.

For McLaren-Honda, this race marks the end of a significant year for the team, and the last time I’ll race with my team mate Jenson for the foreseeable future. It’s been a pleasure to work with him and I’ll miss him being in the garage next to me, but he’ll still very much be part of McLaren-Honda’s plans and I want to wish him all the best for the exciting things he has in store for the next step in his career.”

Jenson Button - “I’m really looking forward to this weekend, and have been for a few races now. It marks a very special chapter in my life and I’ll have my friends and some of my family out in Abu Dhabi with me which I’m very excited about. It’s going to be a hugely emotional weekend and I hope with the support of the fans, the team and the people that are closest to me, we can go out there and give it our absolute maximum and enjoy the weekend. It’s not the end of my career with McLaren-Honda, but it’s the start of a new phase that I’m incredibly positive about. This race marks the culmination of a huge amount of hard work, dedication and passion for the sport that I love and I’m immensely proud of everything I’ve achieved in the past 17 seasons, and the fantastic progress we’ve made over the past couple of years with McLaren-Honda. It’s been an amazing project to work on and my involvement certainly won’t end here. I’m looking forward to concluding this chapter in style and starting a new one with just as much enthusiasm, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.


Yas Marina is a pretty technical race track, with a relatively low average speed thanks to the tight corners in the final sector, which gives it many of the characteristics of a street circuit. Typically, overtaking is quite tricky there, so it’s important we do as much as we can in qualifying and hope for a strong, clean start like many that we’ve enjoyed so far this year, and make the most of our strategy in order to get the best possible result. If we use the track time productively on Friday it’ll give us the best opportunity to set the car up for the weekend and, hopefully, avoid a repeat of Brazil where I really struggled for pace in the race. Our package definitely has more potential than that, and I hope that I can push it to the limit and give the team and the fans a good end to the year.”

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Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Manor

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - MANOR RACING F1 TEAM

Pascal Wehrlein - “We just have to do our very best and see where that gets us. I think we have to be realistic about what is possible in Abu Dhabi, but that shouldn’t stop us fighting all the way to the finish. Over the last couple of races we have seen what a difference three solid practice sessions makes to our qualifying and race preparation. We have to get everything right, and at the same time, identify every little advantage and opportunity. If that happens, we have shown four times this year that we can make it into Q2, and a better starting position can make a big difference in the race. Brazil happened, so the chance to show more of what we have achieved together this year is what we are targeting.”

Esteban Ocon - “I will forever be grateful to Manor Racing for giving me the opportunity to begin my F1 career, so my objective is to help put a smile on everyone’s faces on Sunday afternoon. Getting both cars to the chequered flag with one last strong performance under our belts is my target. It maybe won’t change the situation in the constructors’ standings, but it will be a measure of what the team has done well so many times this season.”

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Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Renault

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - RENAULT SPORT FORMULA 1 TEAM

Jolyon Palmer - “It’s a track I know really well as I’ve done a lot of GP2 Series laps there. I completed my first-ever Formula One test with Force India and then sadly it was only a few FP1 laps there last season for Lotus F1 Team. It’s a nice track and it’s a nice place to end the season. It’s a glamourous event with the additional aspect of racing into the night which is really atmospheric.”

Kevin Magnussen - N/A

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Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Red Bull

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - RED BULL RACING FORMULA 1 TEAM 

Max Verstappen - "The track design in Abu Dhabi is quite different, there are a lot of low-speed corners and combinations. The unique layout means it is challenging, a small mistake during one of the many corner sequences can ruin a lap. It is also important to have a strong car in the last sector to keep the tyres alive.

Away from the car Abu Dhabi has some cool features that set it aside from other races, the hotel goes over the track which is pretty special, it’s great for spectators in that sector. I have had a quick look around the area and spent a bit of time in Dubai which is always good fun. Maybe this year I’ll sample a bit more Arabic food as I haven’t really got stuck into that yet.

Of course it is the last race of the season and I think we can look back and be very happy with 2016. There is plenty of work to do for next year with the regulation changes and I think everyone is excited to see the new cars so I can’t wait to get started.”

Daniel Ricciardo - “I have always gone well on the track at Abu Dhabi, it’s been really enjoyable in the past, especially the last sector underneath the hotel, that’s great fun. It has a bit of a street circuit style to the layout which I enjoy. I had my first ever Formula One test at this track so it holds good memories and has generally been good to me.

I love any kind of hot climate and being warm so I’m very much looking forward to getting out there. I try to get there a little earlier than usual and stay a bit afterwards to enjoy some time in the heat and get out into the desert, ride some bikes and have some fun.

As it is the last race of the season I usually have some friends out for some fun and there is always a good atmosphere. It’s kind of like the Middle Eastern Monaco, and it definitely has that vibe to it. There are usually some celebrities and good parties knocking around that weekend which adds to the buzz of the season finale.”

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Ron Dennis Forced To Step Down At McLaren

RON DENNIS FORCED TO STEP DOWN AT McLAREN

    Ron Dennis has been forced to step down from his role as Chairman and Chief Executive of the McLaren Technology Group. Dennis has said the grounds of the decision to place him on “gardening leave” are “entirely spurious”.

    Dennis, who has been a part of McLaren for more than thirty five years, but has been forced into gardening leave after a majority decision by the shareholders of the McLaren Technology Group. He will remain on the board and a significant shareholder of the group, and McLaren Automotive Limited, before launching a new technology investment fund next year.

    He says he is disappointed about this decision, and says there have been “strong warnings” from the technology group management about the consequences.

    “The grounds they [the shareholders] have stated are entirely spurious,” he said. “My management style is the same as it has always been and is one that has enabled McLaren to become an automotive and technology group that has won 20 Formula One world championships and grown into an £850 million a year business.”

    Dennis has added that TAG and Mumtalakat do not share his “vision” for McLaren.

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Abu Dhabi GP: Circuit Preview

ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX 2016 - CIRCUIT PREVIEW & 2015 STATS

Name: Yas Marina Circuit

Location: Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Opened: October 2009

Length: 3.451 Miles

Capacity: 50,000

Runs: Anti-Clockwise

Turns: 21

Race Laps: 55

2015 STATS

Pole Position: Nico Rosberg

1st Place: Nico Rosberg

2nd Place: Lewis Hamilton

3rd Place: Kimi Raikkonen

Retirements: Pastor Maldonado (Collision)

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Abu Dhabi GP: Track Schedule

ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX 2016 - TRACK SCHEDULE

November 24th / Thursday

12:00 - 16:15 - Pit-Lane Walk (3-Day-Ticket-Holders Only)

15:00 - Drivers Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)

November 25th / Friday

13:00 - 14:30 - Free Practice #1

15:45 - 16:45 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

17:00 - 18:30 - Free Practice #2

19:00 - 20:00 - Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)

November 26th / Saturday

11:00 - 12:05 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

11:30 - 12:00 - Team Pit-Stop Practice

14:00 - 15:00 - Free Practice #3

15:05 - 16:20 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

17:00 - 18:00 - Qualifying

November 27th / Sunday

15:15 - 16:15 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

15:20 - Fastest Lap Of The Year Award (Starting Grid)

15:25 - End Of Year Drivers Photograph (Starting Grid)

15:30 - Drivers Track Parade

15:45 - 16:15 - Starting Grid Presentation

16:46 - National Anthem

17:00 - Race

(Times subject to change)

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Brazilian GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

BRAZILIAN GRAND PRIX - RACE

    The title fight will go down to the wire as Lewis Hamilton took his first win in Brazil after a stop-start race at Interlagos. Teammate and championship rival Nico Rosberg came home second and more than eleven seconds behind Hamilton.

    Right from the start, the weather was causing trouble, the stewards deciding to delay the start of the race by ten minutes to give the rain a chance to ease. On the out lap to the grid, Romain Grosjean showed why, losing the rear end of his Haas under acceleration and crashing into the wall.

    The rain didn’t ease up, and the race started behind a safety car so drivers could get a feel of the track conditions. After seven laps of follow the leader, the green flag was brought out and the race started proper. Hamilton immediately got off to a fantastic start, building up a gap to Roseberg. Behind them, Kimi Raikkonen was caught sleeping as Max Verstappen sped past him up the inside. In a matter of moments, the young Red Bull was on the back of Rosberg’s Mercedes. Verstappen swept across the track, finding the best grip on the still wet tarmac.

    Already, drivers were beginning to pit for Intermediate tyres. Renault’s Kevin Magnussen was the first, but Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso, Valtteri Bottas, Felipe Massa, Daniil Kvyat, Jolyon Palmer, and Marcus Ericsson were all quick to follow. Not the Mercedes drivers, though. Both drivers were adamant it was too soon for the green walled tyres.

    Sebastian Vettel proved them right. Still on wet tyres, the Ferrari driver was sent into a spin when he dropped a tyre onto the slippery white line, falling back through the field. Still, Vettel followed the flow of the competition and pitted for intermediate tyres.

    A few laps later, Ericsson also spun, but his spin ended in the wall at the entry of the pit lane. The safety car was brought out and the pit lane entry was closed, but not before Max Verstappen had dived in to put intermediates on. It was before Daniel Riccardo came into the pits though. The Australian was later given a five second penalty for entering the pit lane whilst the entrance was closed. Home hero Felipe Massa was also under investigation and later handed the same penalty for overtaking before the safety car line on the first race start.

    The safety car came into the pits on lap nineteen and almost immediately the chaos resumed. Kimi Raikkonen span at almost the exact same place as Ericsson, colliding with the pit wall and bouncing back onto the track, a Manor car narrowly avoiding the Ferrari. Meanwhile, Palmer crashed into the back of Kvyat, severely damaging his Renault. The red flags were brought out to clear the stricken Ferrari and, though Palmer was able to hobble back to the pits, he wouldn’t return to the track when the race resumed.

    The race resumed under safety car conditions, with everybody back on wet tyres. Hamilton and Verstappen were both eager to get racing but, after just a few laps behind the safety car, the race was red flagged again, with running water on the track causing concern for race control.

    After a lengthy delay, the race resumed again under the safety car. This time, the race would start again proper, and Verstappen was on the attack. It didn’t take long for the Red Bull to find a way past Roseberg, around the outside of turn three. Teammate Daniel Ricciardo was also on the move, slipping up the inside of Carlos Sainz to take fifth.

    Vettel, after his earlier spin and pit stop, was working his way up through the pack. The German soon made his way into the point, knocking Manor’s Pascal Wehrlein into eleventh.

    Verstappen tried to take the race to Hamilton, setting a fastest lap to attempt to close the gap to the championship contender, only for Hamilton to reply with a fastest lap of his own. Rosberg, however, was no where to be seen, unable to keep the pace in the wet conditions.

    A big slide for Verstappen had everybody’s hearts in their throats. The Dutchman spun after touching the white line, and was sent into a slide, but was just about able to keep his Red Bull out of the barriers. Rosberg saw his chance to regain second, coming alongside Verstappen, but Verstappen was able to keep second place.

    On lap forty, Ricciardo pitted for intermediate tyres, serving his five second penalty in the process. Meanwhile, Vettel was still pushing to move forwards. The Ferrari’s back-end was twitching as Vettel struggled to keep it under control, but that didn’t stop him trying to make a move on Alonso. The German managed to get past the McLaren car, but Alonso fought back. Vettel had the inside line, forcing Alonso off track as he kept the position, but both cars managed to keep going.

    Verstappen, still running in second, followed Ricciardo’s lead and pitted for intermediate tyres, coming out in fifth position. Ricciardo proved that the switch was working by setting a fastest lap. Button, also on intermediates, had other ideas, though. He’d already said that there was no difference in grip between the two tyres, but now he wanted to put wets back on his McLaren. The McLaren came in to pit for wets and it soon became clear that was the right choice.

    Felipe Massa crashed, bringing out the safety car and bringing an end to the Brazilian’s final home grand prix. It was an emotional scene as mechanics from Mercedes and Ferrari lined up to clap Massa on his way back to the pits. Massa sobbed as he was joined by his family, come to watch his final Grand Prix on the Interlagos circuit. Massa’s first home grand prix, way back at the start of his career, ended with a retirement, and so would his last.

    There was still a race to go though. Ricciardo and Verstappen both pitted for wet tyres, making it seem like a podium might be out of reach for either Red Bull driver, but the race wasn’t over yet. As soon as the safety car returned to the pits, Verstappen got back to what he did best: overtaking.
One by one, Verstappen picked off drivers: Bottas, then Ricciardo, then Kvyat, Ocon, Nasr, Hulkenberg. The Red Bull looked almost unstoppable as he cut through the field. Sebastian Vettel, who had managed to climb up all the way to fifth, looked to put a stop to that progress though. V

    Verstappen tried a move around the outside of the Ferrari, but Vettel closed the door on the youngster. Next, Verstappen tried the inside line, pushing Vettel onto the grass and speeding past the Ferrari. Another clean, decisive move brought Verstappen past former teammate Sainz, and then there was only Perez between him and the podium it seemed he was almost destined for. Verstappen looked at the outside line before trying to get past the Force India all the way around the outside. He briefly lost the back of the Red Bull, but kept in control to come side by side with Perez. Verstappen pushed past, into third.

    Ahead, Hamilton had had a quiet race, speeding away whenever there wasn’t a red flag or a safety car, and took a comfortable win. The Brit has been trying for ten years to get a win at Interlagos and now, in the 44th race at the track, he’s got it. Rosberg finishing second brings the gap down to twelve points ahead of the final race at Abu Dhabi.

RESULTS: 

1. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain / + 25 Points
2. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany / + 18 Points
3. Max Verstappen / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER / Netherlands / + 15 Points
4. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico / + 12 Points
5. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany / + 10 Points
6. Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Spain / + 8 Points
7. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany / + 6 Points
8. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER / Australia / + 4 Points
9. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil / + 2 Points
10. Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain / + 1 Point
11. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland
12. Esteban Ocon / Manor-Mercedes / France
13. Daniil Kvyat / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Russia
14. Kevin Magnussen / Renault-Renault / Denmark
15. Pascal Wehrlein / Manor-Mercedes / Germany
16. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain

RETIRED - Esteban Gutierrez / Haas-Ferrari / Mexico / Engine Failure
RETIRED - Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil / Collision
RETIRED - Jolyon Palmer / Renault-Renault / Great Britain / Collision Damage
RETIRED - Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland / Collision
RETIRED - Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden / Collision
RETIRED - Romain Grosjean / Haas-Ferrari / France / Collision

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Magnussen Confirmed At Haas For 2017

MAGNUSSEN JOINS HAAS FOR 2017 SEASON

    Danish driver, Kevin Magnussen has been confirmed at American team, Haas for next season, alongside French Driver, Romain Grosjean. The news came only a day after Esteban Gutierrez announced his departure from the Ferrari-powered team.

    Kevin Magnussen spent his first season in F1 at McLaren, after winning the 2013 Formula Renault 3.5 Championship with team DAMS. Magnussen's contract with McLaren as one of their drivers was not renewed in 2015 and he spent the season as a reserve/test driver instead. He was then released from his McLaren contract altogether before signing with Renault for the current 2016 season. 

    Magnussen has gathered a total of 7 points for Renault this season and currently stands 16th in the Drivers Championship.

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Brazilian GP: Qualifying - Re-Cap & Results

BRAZILIAN GRAND PRIX - QUALIFYING 

    Lewis Hamilton will start from Pole Position for the Brazilian GP, while Nico Rosberg will start beside him, hoping to clinch the Championship title by winning the race. Esteban Ocon will take a 3-Place-Grid-Penalty for impeding Jolyon Palmer in Q1.

HOW IT WORKS:

Q1 = 18 minutes. All cars allowed to go out. At the end of the session, the six slowest are eliminated.

Q2 = 15 minutes. The remaining cars go out. At the end of the session, the six slowest are eliminated.

Q3 = 12 minutes. Final 10 cars go out. The final order at the end of the session is how the grid will line up. Fastest car starts from Pole Position.

GRID LINE-UP

1. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain

2. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany

3. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland

4. Max Verstappen / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER / Netherlands

5. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany

6. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER / Australia

7. Romain Grosjean / Haas-Ferrari / France

8. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany

9. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico

10. Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain

11. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland

12. Esteban Gutierrez / Haas-Ferrari / Mexico

13. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil

14. Daniil Kvyat / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Russia

15. Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Spain

16. Jolyon Palmer / Renault-Renault / Great Britain

17. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain

18. Kevin Magnussen / Renault-Renault / Denmark

19. Pascal Wehrlein / Manor-Mercedes / Germany

20. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden

21. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil

22. Esteban Ocon / Manor-Mercedes / France*

* - (Ocon) 3-Place-Grid-Penalty for impeding Palmer in Q1

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