In the round-up: Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says the team won’t intervene in the title battle between their drivers today.
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I have trust that it is going to go well, says Toto Wolff (BBC)
"As long as they're not overstepping the mark in terms of what we see as sportsmanlike, we need to let them go."
Button fears decision to quit F1 was 'way too early' (F1i)
"I think when a driver decides he’s going to leave the sport or retire from that certain type of sport I think you should try and do it as late as possible. I think I did it way too early."
Vettel too aggressive with qualifying approach (Autosport)
"I don't think (Verstappen) was in the way but I lost some rhythm and the last sector wasn't tidy."
Rosberg senior keeps his distance (Reuters)
"My dad, he likes his three monitors. To have everything in front of him - the timing, the on-boards, this and that, so he prefers to be there rather than here."
Williams gives Massa Brazilian GP car as leaving gift (Motorsport)
"After deputy team principal Claire Williams paid tribute to the contribution he had made since joining the outfit in 2014, she announced that as well as presents of a photo album and specially-commissioned cartoon illustrating his career, he will be given his Brazilian GP chassis."
At Mercedes, Racing Is ‘Business on Steroids’ (The New York Times)
"That is the uniqueness of Mercedes today. That Daimler decided to accept external shareholders with Niki Lauda and myself — he has 10 percent and I have 30 percent — and understand the weaknesses of the global structure in terms of organization and efficiency."
Taxation games in the F1 world (Joe Blogs F1)
"The fact that the future taxation might change should not be new to a company like Liberty and having this pointed out to them in public serves no good purpose except to irritate them."
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Worth mentioning that Hamilton made an inverted comma gesture while referring to Rosberg as the "world champion", too. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
— Phil Duncan (@PhilDuncanF1) November 26, 2016
Happy I'm watching the #AbuDhabiGP on @C4F1 – means I don't have to listen to the chap that commentates for the blind on Sky!
— Jody Scheckter (@JScheckter) November 26, 2016
Congratulations to my friend @Charles_Leclerc for winning the GP3 championship! All the best for your future
— Esteban Gutierrez (@EstebanGtz) November 26, 2016
a pause to remember Aki before the Championship is decided tomorrow. His work across the paddock carries on with his fantastic coaches. pic.twitter.com/wlAYbySk2A
— Luke Bennett (@DrLukeBennett) November 26, 2016
2014: Shake
2016: No shake#F1 #AbuDhabiGP https://t.co/KFT4uDMhrB pic.twitter.com/WlsA11HeRe— F1 Fanatic (@f1fanatic_co_uk) November 26, 2016
This is some serious douchebag parking by either Rosberg (grey) oder Hamilton (silver). :-)
Don't know who arrived first though. #AMuS #F1 pic.twitter.com/YYdBbsM4MZ— Tobi Grüner (@tgruener) November 26, 2016
Good to see Nick Mason here to make F1 look more glamorous for the young kids watching.
— f1bastard (@f1bastard) November 26, 2016
Bit of a coincidence at the top of the points tables heading into the final #F1 and #GP2 races of 2016. pic.twitter.com/dmEUntQXhK
— F1 Fanatic (@f1fanatic_co_uk) November 26, 2016
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Comment of the day
Spare a thought today for Hamilton and Rosberg’s mechanics:
I wouldn’t like to be on the pit crew, anyway. I mean, can you imagine?
@Lockup
From the forum
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On this day in F1
Five years ago today Mark Webber ended the 2011 season with a win after a gearbox problem struck team mate Sebastian Vettel:
ruliemaulana (@ruliemaulana)
27th November 2016, 0:14
Would not interfere = using different strategy are discourage.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
27th November 2016, 0:19
I know you should never look a gift horse in the mouth, but come on… a crashed chassis as a farewell gift?! Come on Williams! :P
Ian Stephens (@ians)
27th November 2016, 0:55
Just what I thought!
juan fanger (@juan-fanger)
27th November 2016, 1:21
If Felipe doesn’t want it…
nase
27th November 2016, 12:56
@fer-no65
Yeah, I thought the same thing at first … :D
But as it turns out, the chassis is fine – it’s the one he’s using today, so definitely a very special car for him. If it survives today, that is. :p
John H (@john-h)
27th November 2016, 1:21
I’m beginning to feel like I don’t want either of these two to win the championship. Can we just give it to Massa instead of that busted chassis?
Jay Menon (@jaymenon10)
27th November 2016, 1:24
Hoho.. Piercing comment by Jody Sheckter!… Crofty does talk a lot.. Even for a commentator!
John H (@john-h)
27th November 2016, 8:08
“doesn’t he just” :)
On the flip side, Ben Edwards is the best commentator since Murray Walker imho. Well, apart from Keith of course.
Patrick (@paeschli)
27th November 2016, 8:17
I don’t understand why British people listen to Hamilton TV instead of getting their coverage from C4.
Telvee32 (@telvee32)
27th November 2016, 10:06
I personally watch the C4 coverage whenever they have the full race, but when they just have the highlights I get my anti-cringe armour and force myself to watch the Sky coverage.
steve
27th November 2016, 1:51
Why does Rosberg look like he’s contemplating suicide?
x303 (@x303)
27th November 2016, 9:50
He has a strange look in those photos.
I think he didn’t play it safe and went for pole. And as a competitor, he is not happy when he’s failing.
Yes (@come-on-kubica)
27th November 2016, 1:51
Don’t know why Button didn’t punt for the Renault seat. Would have been worth the risk.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
27th November 2016, 2:54
@come-on-kubica worth the risk of what? staying in F1 for too long? he’s already done that with Mclaren back in 2014… he should’ve left then instead of suffering 2 years in that slow Macca-Honda. He doesn’t need another slow year in a Renault.
Yes (@come-on-kubica)
27th November 2016, 10:53
@fer-no65 He certainly still has talent and would be better than the option of havin Palmer.
Daniel
27th November 2016, 6:38
Banco do Brasil won’t sponsor Sauber in 2017. http://grandepremio.uol.com.br/mobile/f1/noticias/banco-do-brasil-alega-questoes-orcamentarias-e-estrategia-de-marketing-e-oficializa-fim-de-patrocinio-a-sauber
Not happy to remember it, but I’ve called that a few weeks ago. Seems we will be without a brazilian driver for the first time since 1969
ruliemaulana (@ruliemaulana)
27th November 2016, 7:43
Not a surprise but still a bad news.
moarpheus (@moarpheus)
27th November 2016, 9:01
Not interfere … I am tired of the masquerade.
ColdFly F1 (@)
27th November 2016, 9:44
Let’s solve the Mercedes G class riddle.
I don’t recognise the plates. However in the UAE they drive on the right.
Also the wipers confirm that both cars are left hand drive.
Only the grey car’s driver will struggle to enter the car.
There is space to the right of the grey car, thus no need to be as tightly parked.
I noticed that both Lewis and Nico tend to drive their own cars.
Thus the silver car (Lewis) seems the be the prankster here.
frk
27th November 2016, 9:55
“Mercedes won’t “interfere” in drivers’ title battle”
Oh yes, I do believe it! Like they didn’t “interfere” in last two title battles……………………………………….
x303 (@x303)
27th November 2016, 10:20
You are suggesting they are favouring Hamilton?
frk
27th November 2016, 12:34
Not only “suggesting”, I openly said that several time. But I know this opinion is not shared by most here, so you don’t need to tell me that ;-)
Anyway, time has come, have a good GP to everyone!
kartguy07 (@kartguy07)
27th November 2016, 17:50
Well, looks like you were wrong. Team orders amounting to forbidding Hamilton to try to win the title. Didn’t make any difference in the end, of course, but Mercedes have shown what their claim to ‘let the drivers race’ to be the hot air that I thought it was.
x303 (@x303)
27th November 2016, 22:34
Given that others are accusing the team to favour Hamilton, I think they are quite neutral on the subject.
Adam (@rocketpanda)
27th November 2016, 10:58
If Hamilton really did do a “world champion” action in reference to Rosberg – regardless of the circumstance I think that’s rather disrespectful. In fact everything so far coming out of this GP weekend has made him look like an awful person. Great talent, awful man.
I really wish the championship had a third option, I don’t want either of them to have it. Truly hope next year Ferrari and Red Bull get their act together.
Tommy Scragend
27th November 2016, 11:30
Succinctly put.
x303 (@x303)
27th November 2016, 22:33
Remember that you only know the man through the press filter. And it filters a lot.
John H (@john-h)
27th November 2016, 11:43
In theory, they could both get DSQ from the championship (like Schumacher in ’97) with Ricciardo taking the title. However, I presume the odds of this happening are less than a billion to one!
Simon Stiel
27th November 2016, 11:59
Thank you for the birthday wishes. Really appreciated.
ACx
27th November 2016, 12:06
Mercedes have said that the will interfere. Its been stated on Sky that if Hamilton backs the second rate golden german up, the team will pit SRGG to give him the “undercut”. So, yes, they will interfere.
BTW, there are no rules about backing a driver up. Drivers have every right to do it.
Granted, I think it would be a dangerous risky move for Lewis, and therefor a mistake. But its his call, not mine, Merc’s or any one elses.
kartguy07 (@kartguy07)
27th November 2016, 17:52
I wondered why he didn’t try it earlier in the race, guess he really was worried the team would sabotage his strategy.
Tristan
27th November 2016, 15:35
Looking at this headline in hindsight is hilarious!
kartguy07 (@kartguy07)
27th November 2016, 21:11
Indeed, why did Mercedes bother going through the charade? They were bound to get found out.
(not that it ultimately made a difference)