NW
N E WS W RA P
A b u D h ab i GP 2 016
Rosberg champion –
but Hamilton in the
spotlight
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Nico Rosberg’s second place
in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
was enough for him to clinch
the Formula 1 championship,
but the main talking point
after the race was Lewis
Hamilton’s tactics.
Hamilton had gone in to
the season finale knowing
that victory alone was not
good enough – and that he
needed at least two cars
between himself and his
teammate if he was to take
his third consecutive title.
But the manner in which
he tried to make it happen
– by backing Rosberg up
into the pursuing pack in
defiance of team orders
from his bosses urging him
to pick up the pace stirred
up huge controversy.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff
was clearly annoyed at the
situation, but said he needed
more information before
coming to a firm verdict on
whether or not Hamilton was
out of order.
“It’s not clear cut,” said
Wolff. “I think we have to
climb down – there’s so
much work going on in the
background, which plays a
role in how we are thinking
and this is why I don’t want
to express that opinion
before I’ve actually made up
my mind for myself.”
Having been firm with his
drivers earlier this season
after the collisions in Spain
and Austria, Wolff suggested
however that a decision
needed to be taken about
how the team imposed its
rules of engagement from
now on.
“We need to look at the
overall situation and say,
what does it mean?” he said.
“Everything is possible, from
let’s change the rules for next
year because it doesn’t work
in those critical races.
“Maybe we want to give
them even more freedom
in racing each other, or we
could go to the more harsh
side that we feel the values
were not respected. This is
180 degrees and I’m not sure
yet where my finger is going
to point – where the needle is
going to go.”
STANDING
STARTS
PLAN
Formula 1 teams
have approved a
proposal from Bernie
Ecclestone for there
to be standing starts
after all Safety Car
periods from 2017.
Ecclestone pushed
for the idea in a
me eting with team
bosses in Abu Dhabi,
because he is eager
for more excitement
to entice television
viewers back.
Although a
proposal for this to
happen two years
ago was rejected
following evaluation
of its consequences,
the matter will now
be evaluated again
prior to a potential
FIA vote.
Formula 1 waved goodbye
to two stalwart drivers in
Abu Dhabi – with Felipe
Massa and Jenson Button
both adamant they got the
timings of their grand prix
exits spot on.
Massa plans to race on
– potentially in Formula
E – but was full of emotions
at the Yas Marina Circuit as
he celebrated with past and
present team members,
family and friends prior
to signing out with a ninth
placed finish.
As a leaving gift,
Williams gave him a
photo album, a speciallycommissioned cartoon plus
the car he raced in his final
home Brazilian Grand Prix.
“I am so proud of my
career, everything I passed
through, difficult moments,
and great moments,” said
Massa at a leaving party on
Saturday night. “I think it is
a good time, so I am really
happy with my decision.
“It is very difficult to
decide or stop, because we
are young and you need
to decide something in the
moment that you are still
fit. To keep doing and keep
working for very long, I am
really sure I chose the right
moment to do that.”
Button went in to the
season finale saying he was
treating it like his final F1
race – even though there is
an option for him to return
with McLaren in 2018.
Despite regrets about
having made his plans back
in September, Button said
he was wholly comfortable
with his plan.
“I’m very happy with
my decision,” said Button,
prior to retiring with
broken suspension after
clouting a kerb. “Who
knows what’s going to
happen next year, but that’s
not the reason for leaving
the sport.
“It’s just the right time.
The thought process that I
had in August, long months
to really think about the
past, present and future.
It’s definitely the right thing
for me to be doing.”
GERMAN GRAND PRIX DROPPED FOR 2017
2
Keke Rosberg on watching Lewis Hamilton back Nico Rosberg into the
pack in Abu Dhabi.
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Massa
and
Button
say
goodbye
4
I took a deep sip from my beer and
thought this was going to get hot.”
1. XPB Images | 2. XPB Images | 3. XPB Images | 4. XPB Images | 5. Daimler AG
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Formula 1’s 2017 schedule looks set to be reduced to
20 races when it is ratified by the FIA later this week,
with Germany having lost its place.
Following months of speculation about the fate of
the Hockenheim event, the circuit’s boss announced
last week that all hope of rescuing the event had faded.
With the huge expense needed to pay the race
hosting fee, and little prospect of turning around the
drop in spectator numbers experienced in recent years,
Hockenheim has given up on the race.
“There was no offer that would have excluded all
economic risks,” Hockenheim executive director Georg
Seiler told AutoBild.
“But just that was always our prerequisite. A pity,
but not a surprise considering that the date was
subject to confirmation and no deal between F1 and the
Hockenheimring was put in place.”
As well as Hockenheim falling off the schedule, other
tweaks expected to the final calendar include reverting
Austin/Mexico and Malaysia/Japan to being backto- backs.
Possible 2017 F1 Calendar
(*indicates changes from first version)
March 26
Australia (Melbourne)
April 9
China (Shanghai)
April 16
Bahrain (Sakhir)
April 30
Russia (Sochi)
May 14
Spain (Barcelona)
May 28
Monaco
June 11
Canada (Montreal)
June 18
Europe (Baku)
July 2
Austria (Red Bull Ring)
July 9
Britain (Silverstone)
July 30
Hungary (Hungaroring)*
August 27
Belgium (Spa)
September 3
Italy (Monza)
September 17
Singapore (Marina Bay)*
October 1
Malaysia (Sepang)*
October 8
Japan (Suzuka)
October 22
United States (Austin)
October 29
Mexico (Mexico City)*
November 12
Brazil (Interlagos)
November 26
Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)
GPG AZET T E |
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