The Formula 1 Blog

Following the arrival of DRS and Pirelli tyres, overtaking has been a frequent topic of discussion this season. With nearly 1500 passes over the last 18 races, the level of overtaking has certainly climbed, but the debate about the merits of the rule changes continues.

As we approach the season finale in Brazil this weekend, Mercedes have compiled some facts and figures to help you make an assessment

Both championships were settled long ago, but that doesn’t mean there is nothing at stake at this weekend’s season-ending Formula 1 Grande Premio Petrobras do Brasil 2011 – far from it in fact.

Numerous teams and drivers remain locked in lesser, but just as meaningful battles as they look to better their positions in the final standings. We take a look at five of the most fascinating…

Following Sunday’s 2011 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the paddock has stayed on at the Yas Marina Circuit for the annual, three-day young driver test, which begins on Tuesday.

The rules stipulate teams are allowed to field any driver who has not competed in more than two Grands Prix, but for many this week it will be their first taste of F1 power. Here’s a rundown of the drivers expected in action

Lewis Hamilton’s recent troubles have been well documented. Perhaps no surprise then that he described his superb Yas Marina win as ‘good for the soul’. And with team mate Jenson Button joining him on the podium, it was good for McLaren too.

Sebastian Vettel may have gone out early, but Hamilton had been quickest all weekend – he even set the fastest qualifying lap, albeit in Q2 – and always looked a good bet for victory

Like Monaco’s, Abu Dhabi’s stylish paddock is one of the most social of the season, and this year’s event was bolstered by concerts for Britney Spears on Friday, Incubus and The Cult on Saturday, and Sir Paul McCartney on Sunday. The former Beatle made an appearance at the track just before qualifying.

As he’s done 13 times previously this season, Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel took the top grid slot during qualifying for Sunday’s Abu Dhabi race. But up until Q3 McLaren had ruled the roost and from second and third Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button could well spring a surprise. We take a team-by-team look at how all the runners performed…

It was a normal Friday by F1 standards, as teams focused on tyre evaluation, and short- and long-run work, with the difference that Pirelli gave each driver two extra sets of developmental soft tyres to try. McLaren used them to good effect to dominate the times, but it was Ferrari who surprised by out-pacing Red Bull

The drivers – not least Fernando Alonso – are hoping that the two DRS zones at Yas Marina Circuit will make a big difference when it comes to overtaking this year.

“I think there will be good possibilities here to overtake, especially with DRS and it could make the race quite interesting,” Virgin’s Timo Glock says. “Let’s see, maybe we can overtake on the back of the field as well, the possibilities are much higher here

Last year the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix saw Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel snatch the world championship crown from Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and his own team mate Mark Webber, but the dearth of overtaking played a key role in the final outcome.

This year both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles are long settled, but the use of DRS could make for a much more exciting race…

The combination of DRS and Pirelli tyres has made 2011 a bumper year for the sport, but not just in terms of on-track passing manoeuvres. The characteristics of the Pirelli tyres, designed to improve the racing, have also seen the total number of pit stops rise steeply – so far, there have been an average of 58 stops per race.

Slick pit work has always been important in Formula One racing, but the frequency with which the pit crews have been in action this year has brought both speed and consistency to the fore. Mercedes explain more…