Pick the Podium - F-1 - Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi, December 2020

[Retroram52]

With Hamilton done for the year and his 7th Championship in hand, the F-1 dude go to Abu Dhabi for the final race of this crazy race season. Perez comes of a nice win at Bahrain and Russell demonstrated that he is def F-1 legit. Bottas has become a predictable wash in the Verstappen mode and this Russell kid just might pull-off his first win in the replacement role for the Mercs. Should be fun and we shall see who walks away with the championship on this board.

 

[Schmoopy1000]

With Hamilton done for the year and his 7th Championship in hand, the F-1 dude go to Abu Dhabi for the final race of this crazy race season. Perez comes of a nice win at Bahrain and Russell demonstrated that he is def F-1 legit. Bottas has become a predictable wash in the Verstappen mode and this Russell kid just might pull-off his first win in the replacement role for the Mercs. Should be fun and we shall see who walks away with the championship on this board.

So Russell is getting another Shot in Hamilton's ride?

 

[Retroram52]

I believe so Schmoopy.

 

[Schmoopy1000]

no offense to Hamilton & his fans, but I was hoping since he is gonna be champion anyways. He didn't return for the final race.
Was hoping to see what Russell could do with another chance driving the Mercedes.

 

[forty_three]

no offense to Hamilton & his fans, but I was hoping since he is gonna be champion anyways. He didn't return for the final race.
Was hoping to see what Russell could do with another chance driving the Mercedes.

Agreed. He has nothing at all left to prove. It also would have been good for Mercedes to get data on a track that Lewis has raced on to really see how George stacks up. What are his turn in points, his braking points, how hard is he on the tires by comparison, etc.

Mostly I'm just gutted for George. I've been watching F1 since Lauda, Prost, Mansell, Berger and Senna all shared the track. And it's been a real long time since I was as excited to watch a race as I was last weekend. And I was actually even more excited/interested at the end.

 

[Retroram52]

Verstappen takes Practice Three over his teammate Albon and the Renaults of Ricciardo and Ocon. Neither Merc was in the top five but that will change come qualifying.

 

[forty_three]

Max ruins Merc power's bid to run the table for the year in Quali.

VER
HAM
BOT
NOR

 

[Retroram52]

I'll go with Verstappen, Hamilton, Bottas, Albon.

 

[Hank Kingsley]

Hamilton
Verstappen
Sainz
Perez

What the hell eh?

 

[Retroram52]

I am going to join you Hank. I'll go with a second submission of Hamilton, Verstappen, Bottas, Albon.

 

[Retroram52]

Verstappen wins the race followed by Bottas, Hamilton, and Albon.

 

[Retroram52]

Here's How We Did:

BoiseStateFan27: 0 points-Quiescent
forty_three: 6 points-Correctly selected Verstappen for the win
Hank Kingsley: 0 points-Skunked
Retroram52: 1 point-Correctly selected Albon for fourth
YourTEAMreallySUCKS: 0 points-Skunked


2020 Season totals:

BoiseStateFan27: 48 points
forty_three: 88 points
Hank Kingsley: 72 points
Retroram52: 77 points
YourTEAMreallySUCKS: 4 points


Next Race: The 2021 season beginning in March 2021.

 

[Retroram52]

This is how we finished the 2020 Formula-1 season:

43-2020 Champion!!
Retroram-Second Place, again
Hank-Third Place
BSF27-Fourth Place
YourTeamReallySucks-Fifth Place

CONGRATS TO THIS YEAR'S CHAMPION, 43!!!

Everyone except YourTeamReallySucks has won a Championship on this board competition.

I'll see everyone next March as 43 will be out defending his championship and I'll be hunting for number 5 after finishing second for the third year-in-a-row. Damn, this second place stuff is getting old.

It was a strange year in racing all-around and I look forward to next season. See everyone then and enjoy your holidays and start of new year!! Later...

 

[forty_three]

This is how we finished the 2020 Formula-1 season:

43-2020 Champion!!
Retroram-Second Place, again
Hank-Third Place
BSF27-Fourth Place
YourTeamReallySucks-Fifth Place

CONGRATS TO THIS YEAR'S CHAMPION, 43!!!

Everyone except YourTeamReallySucks has won a Championship on this board competition.

I'll see everyone next March as 43 will be out defending his championship and I'll be hunting for number 5 after finishing second for the third year-in-a-row. Damn, this second place stuff is getting old.

It was a strange year in racing all-around and I look forward to next season. See everyone then and enjoy your holidays and start of new year!! Later...

WOO HOO

Hope next year's choices are more mixed up instead of always choosing some variation of HAMBOTVER.

McLaren pulls out third in constructor's championship and next year they get Merc engines and a honey badger behind the wheel. Plus there is a bunch of money coming in to Racing Point who would have finished third if not for the 15 point penalty earlier. It also stands to reason that Ferrari should rebound and Renault was making big strides. Could be a a better battle with 6 teams in the mix.

Se y'all in march!

 

[Retroram52]

Congrats dude, you earned it well. See ya next season!!

 

[Hank Kingsley]

A year we weren't sure we'd get.

17 races in a compressed time frame. With some interesting not been there in a while tracks.

I hear Portugal may be on the schedule next year instead of Vietnam. That was a great track. Mugello as well and the return of Imola.

I quite enjoyed the year.

And Danny Ric and Norris with a Benz lump next year will be interesting.

 

[Hank Kingsley]

Perez has signed with Red Bull.