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2015 Abu Dhabi Thoughts

THE BIG PICTURE: In the end, the top 10 drivers finished the season standings paired off in the same order as the top five constructors point getters. F1 has always been about the car. And always will. However, how many of you would have bet that Kvyat would beat Ricciardo and Perez would beat Hulkenberg? Not to mention Button beating Alonso.

EVENT: Despite what some pundits say, this is still a horrible event to end the season.

QUALIFYING: Rosberg's pole domination continues as he crushes his teammate, Ferrari's brain trust is anything but, Raikkonen saves them, and Perez continues his undefeated qualifying record against his teammate at the Yas Marina Circuit.

RACE: Last year was an aberration.

TRACK: Yas Marina was back to producing a mostly processional race.

START: Hamilton gets off a touch slow, this time Maldonado is the victim, Sainz goes like gangbusters, and Vettel even more so.

ROSBERG: If there were a second half championship... The most obvious question everyone is asking is can Nico perform this way when a championship is on the line?

HAMILTON: Nothing but excuses for Lewis in the last three races.

MERCEDES: Now they set their sights on three in a row ... while looking over their shoulders at Ferrari.

RAIKKONEN: A resurgent race for Kimi ... but is that only because Vettel was not a factor?

VETTEL: A fine run through the field ... now, if he gets a better car in 2016...

FERRARI: The qualifying idiocy aside, the Prancing Horse has made huge strides this year under new management, technical forethought, and driver leadership.

PEREZ: An absolutely fantastic performance by Sergio down the stretch this season. An even better car in 2016 could see great things from Checo.

HULKENBERG: It's tough to see it any other way, but Nico's shine has definitely worn off by the way he has been so soundly beaten recently by his teammate.

FORCE INDIA: With possibly new infusion of money, Mercedes engines still with them, and the success of this year, this team could be poised to make the next leap.

WILLIAMS: A team that always seems to be ready to take that next leap, but always manages in the end to disappoint.

RED BULL: Team Whining Babies concludes the year with most likely the same engine they will start with next year, no matter what name they slap on it.

GROSJEAN: Romain grabbed the car by the horns and produced a wonderful finish to his Lotus career.

LOTUS: If Renault doesn't become their savior, they are done. Kaput. Fini.

VERSTAPPEN: Definitely answered all his critics this season. And most importantly, was great fun to watch for the fans.

ALONSO: Outscored by his teammate for the first time in his career (he tied Lewis Hamilton in 2007). However, Fernando outscored his teammate in the number of times he wanted to quit a race...

MCLAREN: There is no other way to look at this. It was a disastrous season of epic proportions.

HONDA: The embarrassment this once, great engine manufacturer must be feeling...

MANOR: Once again, this team enters the offseason with more questions than answers. Their top management team left, the owner may be selling, and no drivers have been announced.

MALDONADO: There was only one DNF the whole race, and it was Pastor. Not even making it a lap. It wasn't even his fault. Unless you believe in karma.

WORD OF THE WEEKEND: Offseason.

STAT OF THE WEEKEND: 12 -- The number of Mercedes 1-2 finishes this year, breaking their own record set a year ago. They also became the first team to notch over 700 points (703), though that's due mostly to points inflation.

QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND: Ron Dennis said Lewis Hamilton has gone "off the rails" but it's more like Dennis continues to go off the rails with ridiculous quotes like this one: "If he was at McLaren he wouldn't be behaving the way he is because he wouldn't be allowed to." Hey Ron, you know what else Hamilton wouldn't be allowed to do if he was still at McLaren? Win!

QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND RUNNERUP: Sebastian Vettel as he lapped Fernando Alonso, "I just lost a second with Alonso. I mean he must really hate me. I don't know what's wrong with him." Probably more jealousy than hate...

SCHEDULE: 21 races. Possibly. A grand prix in Azerbaijan. Possibly. Germany back on the calendar. Possibly. Monza staying put. Possibly. The USGP in trouble. Possibly. What we do know is we'll see you on March 20th in Melbourne!

Copyright © 2015 by Deep Throttle. All Rights Reserved.



RACE RESULTS
  Driver Laps
1. Rosberg 55
2. Hamilton 55
3. Raikkonen 55
4. Vettel 55
5. Perez 55
6. Ricciardo 55
7. Hulkenberg 55
8. Massa 55
9. Grosjean 55
10. Kvyat 55
11. Sainz(R) 55
12. Button 54
13. Bottas 54
14. Ericsson 54
15. Nasr(R) 54
16. Verstappen(R) 54
17. Alonso 53
18. Stevens(R) 53
19. Merhi(R) 52
NC Maldonado 0

Time of Race
1:38:30.175

Margin of Victory
8.271 sec.

Safety Car
None

Lead Changes
4 among 2 drivers

Lap Leaders
Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton

Fastest Race Lap
Lewis Hamilton

Pole Position
Nico Rosberg

FINAL STANDINGS
  Driver Pts.
1. Hamilton 381
2. Rosberg 322
3. Vettel 278
4. Raikkonen 150
5. Bottas 136
6. Massa 121
7. Kvyat 95
8. Ricciardo 92
9. Perez 78
10. Hulkenberg 58
11. Grosjean 51
12. Verstappen(R) 49
13. Nasr(R) 27
14. Maldonado 27
15. Sainz(R) 18
16. Button 16
17. Alonso 11
18. Ericsson 9

  Team Pts.
1. Mercedes 703
2. Ferrari 428
3. Williams 257
4. Red Bull 187
5. Force India 136
6. Lotus 78
7. Toro Rosso 67
8. Sauber 36
9. McLaren 27
 
 

2024 Thoughts
Bahrain Saudi Arabia Australia Japan
China Miami Emilia Romagna Monaco
Canada Spain Austria Great Britain
Hungary Belgium Holland Italy
Azerbaijan Singapore United States Mexico City
Sao Paulo Las Vegas Qatar Abu Dhabi

2023 Thoughts
Bahrain Saudi Arabia Australia Azerbaijan
Miami Emilia Romagna Monaco Spain
Canada Austria Great Britain Hungary
Belgium Holland Italy Singapore
Japan Qatar United States Mexico City
Sao Paulo Las Vegas Abu Dhabi

2022 Thoughts
Bahrain Saudi Arabia Australia Emilia Romagna
Miami Spain Monaco Azerbaijan
Canada Great Britain Austria France
Hungary Belgium Holland Italy
Singapore Japan United States
Mexico City Sao Paulo Abu Dhabi

2021 Thoughts
Bahrain Emilia Romagna Portugal Spain Monaco
Azerbaijan France Steiermark Austria Great Britain
Hungary Belgium Holland Italy
Russia Turkey United States Mexico City
Sao Paulo Qatar Saudi Arabia Abu Dhabi

2020 Thoughts
Austria Steiermark Hungary Great Britain Anniversary
Spain Belgium Italy Tuscany
Russia Eifel Portugal Emilia Romagna
Turkey Bahrain Sakhir Abu Dhabi

2019 Thoughts
Australia Bahrain China Azerbaijan Spain
Monaco Canada France Austria
Great Britain Germany Hungary Belgium
Italy Singapore Russia Japan
Mexico United States Brazil Abu Dhabi

2018 Thoughts
Australia Bahrain China Azerbaijan Spain
Monaco Canada France Austria
Great Britain Germany Hungary Belgium
Italy Singapore Russia Japan
United States Mexico Brazil Abu Dhabi

2017 Thoughts
Australia China Bahrain Russia
Spain Monaco Canada Azerbaijan
Austria Great Britain Hungary Belgium
Italy Singapore Malaysia Japan
United States Mexico Brazil Abu Dhabi

2016 Thoughts
Australia Bahrain China Russia Spain
Monaco Canada Europe Austria
Great Britain Hungary Germany Belgium
Italy Singapore Malaysia Japan
United States Mexico Brazil Abu Dhabi

2015 Thoughts
Australia Malaysia China Bahrain
Spain Monaco Canada Austria
Great Britain Hungary Belgium Italy
Singapore Japan Russia United States
Mexico Brazil Abu Dhabi

2014 Thoughts
Australia Malaysia Bahrain China
Spain Monaco Canada Austria
Great Britain Germany Hungary Belgium
Italy Singapore Japan Russia
United States Brazil Abu Dhabi

2013 Thoughts
Australia Malaysia China Bahrain
Spain Monaco Canada Great Britain
Germany Hungary Belgium Italy
Singapore South Korea Japan India
Abu Dhabi United States Brazil

2012 Thoughts
Australia Malaysia China Bahrain
Spain Monaco Canada Europe
Great Britain Germany Hungary Belgium
Italy Singapore Japan South Korea
India Abu Dhabi United States Brazil

2011 Thoughts
Australia Malaysia China Turkey
Spain Monaco Canada Europe
Great Britain Germany Hungary Belgium
Italy Singapore Japan South Korea
India Abu Dhabi Brazil

2010 Thoughts
Bahrain Australia Malaysia China
Spain Monaco Turkey Canada
Europe Great Britain Germany Hungary
Belgium Italy Singapore Japan
South Korea Brazil Abu Dhabi

2009 Thoughts
Australia Malaysia China Bahrain
Spain Monaco Turkey Great Britain
Germany Hungary Europe
Belgium Italy Singapore
Japan Brazil Abu Dhabi


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