Abu Dhabi GP - "What a way to see out 2018"

I watched this race live *gasp* with Wheels on Fire.  Our agreed predictions were that Hamilton would win and Alonso would be retired by Lap 10.
Lap 1 didn't go our way, with Hulkenberg "hanging like a cow" out of his topsy turvy car.  The first, worrying glimpse that the Halo might not be the answer to all F1's safety concerns.  Sam Smith and Geri Spice managed to look suitably shocked for the cameras.
No Ocon/Verstappen clashes to spice up the race this Sunday.  Ocon "knows what Max is like" now and the future of F1 continues to be that Hamilton will get older, Vettel will be even older and make even more geriatric mistakes until Ferrari put him out to pasture and Verstappen will have scared all his rivals into fearing a crash whenever they are near him and so he glides uncontested to 10 championships back to back.
Then the farewells started.  Old Man Raikkonen, whom Ferrari can't quite let go of, came to a graceful stop on Lap 7.  Post-race, he commented that he's not really leaving.  With Sauber and Hass both propping up the Ferrari empire, the only hope for defeating Verstappen is that they continue to subsume all the other teams until F1 is basically Verstappen versus Ferrari and, each race, one driver is chosen to fight back and wound the flying Dutchman, leaving Vettel to take the victory.  It's what Schumacher would have wanted.
It's the end of the 2018 season, I am clearly feeling apocalyptic.
Lap 10 saw the departing Hartley bash the barrier and survive, which is a metaphor for his F1 career.  I don't know why he wasn't brutally withdrawn Kvyat-style earlier in the season to make way for Red Bull's latest fetus driver.
Mid-race, our old friend The Rain was on the horizon but felt the race was just spicy enough to stay away.
Ocon retired on Lap 47, which reminded everyone that Alonso was still battling on.  Still there was a on oil leak on the next lap - but for Gasly!  It even sprayed itself all over Verstappen, compromising his vision.  It didn't get the memo that Fernando was still racing.
So the season ends with Hamilton taking his top off, for no apparent reason but I suspect he was gesturing to something he had indelibly marked on his back.  And Alonso was Driver of the Day.  He pedalled all the way to the end.  Will he be back?  Will he win the triple crown?  Will his progress be more exciting that watching Hamilton/Vettel/Verstappen in 2019?

Always leave them wanting more.

Abu Dhabi GP - Results

1. Give it some Gasly! - 1,161
2. Two world champions... - 1,138
3. Maximum Attack! - 1,127
4. Evel Marque - 1,126
5. Hasstag#FaceBull - 903
6. Beauty & the F1 Geek - 885
7. The Hopefulls - 835
8. No Vices Now - 807
9. The Pitstop Princess - 683
10. Halo, baby! - 676
11. Spa Day with a Shooey - 655
12. Wheels on Fire - 606
13. Hippy F1 - 592
14. Jack Johnson - 580

Brazil GP - "That's it"

This was a race full of potential.  Huge potential for cuteness from the overall-clad mascots at the anthem.  Potential grid penalties for Vettel and Hamilton after qualifying...that never materialised.  Potential rain in qualifying. 

Early potential for Verstappen to win, lost on Lap 44 when he collided with Ocon.  Halo, baby! asked me predict this race win and I said Hamilton.  I am going to stop predicting.

There was potential for Mercedes to win the constructors championship.

Potential for violence from Verstappen, talk on the radio followed by pushing in the pit lane.

Potential for hair loss embarrassment for Hamilton, covered up by wearing his balaclava like a turban before receiving his cap.

Potential for a great last race?  Low.

Brazil GP - Results

1. Give it some Gasly! - 1,116*
2. Two World Champions, Two Future World Champions, and, um, Two Other Guys - 1,078*
3. Maximum Attack! - 1,065*
4. Evel Marque - 1,064
5. Beauty & the F1 Geek - 846*
5= Hasstag#FaceBull - 846*
7. The Hopefulls - 789*
8. No Vices Now - 772*
9. The Pitstop Princess - 647*
10. Spa Day with a Shooey - 643*
11. Halo, baby! - 640*
12. Wheels on Fire - 576*
13. Hippy F1 - 573*
14. Jack Johnson - 569*

* Home track played - all home tracks played

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