* Vettel’s new lid
Sebastian Vettel is renowned for tinkering with his helmet design, but this weekend at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he will be modelling the work of a Mexican student. Jake Vite Prekop won a competition to have his design selected, with four-time world champion Vettel making the final decision from the entries, which numbered more than 1,500. Prekop, 21, is a guest of Red Bull Racing this weekend as part of his prize. Vettel debuted the helmet design in practice Friday and will wear it in qualifying Saturday and in Sunday's 55-lap race.
* Rosberg hopes Webber’s misforturne is to his gain
Nico Rosberg joked that he was hoping for more bad luck to hit Mark Webber at the if he is to get a strong result Sunday. The German was fifth in practice Friday and does not believe he can challenge the Red Bull Racing cars of Webber and Sebastian Vettel in qualifying or the race. Rosberg was second in India last weekend after Webber suffered a mechanical failure. “If he [Webber] is as unlucky as in the past races then I can be second again behind Vettel,” Rosberg said.
* Say hello to ...
Fans in Abu Dhabi are getting an early glimpse of Daniil Kyvat this weekend. The Russian teenager is graduating to F1 with Toro Rosso next year to partner Jean-Eric Vergne. Kyvat, 19, is competing in the GP3 series and is in contention for the title, trailing the championship leader Facu Regalia by seven points going into the final two races of the season. Kyvat made a good start to his championship bid Friday by going fastest in practice with a lap of 1 minute, 57.130 seconds. Qualifying takes place Saturday morning at 10am, with the first race at 6.35pm. The second race is Sunday at noon.
* Remembering Edwards
Sean Edwards, the Porsche Supercup championship leader, was killed in a car crash in Australia last month, and the mood was sombre as the series returned to the track Friday for the first time since the Briton's death. Edwards could become a posthumous champion, but his points tally of 118 can be beaten by both Nicki Thiim and Michael Ammermuller, who are 18 and 24 points behind, respectively, with a maximum of 40 points to be won at Yas Marina Circuit in the two races this weekend. Ammermuller was fastest in Friday's practice session. Qualifying takes place at 10.55am on Saturday with the first race at 3.30pm. The second race takes place Sunday at 2.35pm.
* Ahead of the game
The F1 teams will get an early glimpse of 2014 at the end of the month after Pirelli’s motorsport director Paul Hembery said Friday night that two sets of prototype tyres will be made available in practice at the final round of the season in Brazil. The move has been made to give the teams a chance to run on the new rubber as they continue developments for their 2014 cars, and they will have the option of using the tyres in either of the two 90-minute practice sessions at Sao Paulo on November 22.
* Rossi on GP2 pole
The American Alexander Rossi will start Saturday’s GP2 feature race from pole position after Marcus Ericsson, who had set the fastest time, had his effort chalked off for exceeding the track limits in Friday night’s qualifying session. The Swedish driver drops to 12th as a result. Fabio Leimer, the championship leader, will start fourth, and he is two places behind his main challenger, Sam Bird, who goes into the weekend seven points adrift of the Swiss racer. Saturday’s race begins at 12.10pm and will run for 31 laps. The season concludes Sunday with the shorter sprint race of 22 laps, which begins at 1.15pm.
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