Sebastian Vettel wins Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
German describes a "perfect day" as Red Bull team record Yas Marina one-two, with team-mate Mark Webber holding of Jenson Button in thrilling last lap fight for second place
Vettel said the win was part of a "perfect day"
Abu Dhabi: Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, and teammate Mark Webber hung on for second to give the team a one-two finish.
An uneventful race finally sparked to life in the closing stages as Vettel cruised home by more than 16 seconds.
World Champion Jenson Button looked as if he would find the perfect way to celebrate his achievement when he reeled in Mark Webber in the battle for second place.
The 70,000 people packed into Yas Marina roared as the Briton climbed all over the back of the Red Bull, and the last half of the final lap was finally filled with classic racing.
Webber defended his position valiantly - including a heart stopping wheel to wheel duel along the 1.2km main straight - and denied Button the chance to dive through as the cars almost made contact several times.
But he eventually held him off to end the race in thrilling fashion.
Pole sitter Lewis Hamilton led up to the first set of pit stops, but retired on lap 21 after suffering a right rear brake failure on his McLaren.
Brawn's Rubens Barrichello finished fourth, ahead of BMW Sauber driver Nick Heidfeld in the season-ending race at the new Yas Marina circuit.
Speaking after the race, Vettel said: "(Hamilton) had to retire and up to then it was a great race," Vettel said. "After that I had a cushion to Mark and Jenson behind and was able to pace myself. The car was fantastic.
"It's a perfect day, to finish the season on a high."
Toyota driver Kamui Kobayashi, filling in for the injured Timo Glock, was sixth and earned his first F1 points, finishing ahead of teammate Jarno Trulli and Toro Rosso's Sebastien Buemi. BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica was eighth.
Hamilton was expected to dominate the race after a strong qualifying performance, but soon began to struggle with malfunctioning brakes and could not break away from the pursuing Red Bulls. Soon after the first pit stop, he was forced to retire.
"I was locking and locking and locking - it was harder than ever to drive the car," Hamilton said.
"It's a shame as the car felt so good this last couple of days, but we haven't had many brake problems this year, so there you go."
Hamilton was one of only two cars not to finish the race, along with Toro Rosso's Jaime Alguersuari after an embarrassing pit stop mishap.
His crew was not out for his stop, and he mistakenly stopped at the waiting Red Bull pit crew - which has very similar colors. They waved him on and he was forced to retire soon after.
with inputs from AP
ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX: RACE RESULT (after 55 laps):
1 S.Vettel Red Bull 1:34:03.414
2 M.Webber Red Bull +17.857
3 J.Button Brawn GP +18.467
4 R.Barrichello Brawn GP +22.735
5 N.Heidfeld BMW Sauber +26.253
6 K. Kobayashi Toyota +28.343
7 J.Trulli Toyota +34.366
8 S.Buemi Toro Rosso +41.294
9 N.Rosberg Williams +45.941
10 R.Kubica BMW Sauber +48.180
11 H.Kovalainen McLaren +52.798
12 K.Raikkonen Ferrari +54.317
13 K.Nakajima Williams +59.839
14 F.Alonso Renault +69.687
15 V.Liuzzi Force India +94.450
16 G.Fisichella Ferrari +1 LAP
17 A.Sutil Force India +1 LAP
18 R. Grosjean Renault +1 LAP
J.Alguersuari Toro Rosso Retired
L.Hamilton McLaren Retired
An uneventful race finally sparked to life in the closing stages as Vettel cruised home by more than 16 seconds.
World Champion Jenson Button looked as if he would find the perfect way to celebrate his achievement when he reeled in Mark Webber in the battle for second place.
The 70,000 people packed into Yas Marina roared as the Briton climbed all over the back of the Red Bull, and the last half of the final lap was finally filled with classic racing.
Webber defended his position valiantly - including a heart stopping wheel to wheel duel along the 1.2km main straight - and denied Button the chance to dive through as the cars almost made contact several times.
But he eventually held him off to end the race in thrilling fashion.
Pole sitter Lewis Hamilton led up to the first set of pit stops, but retired on lap 21 after suffering a right rear brake failure on his McLaren.
Brawn's Rubens Barrichello finished fourth, ahead of BMW Sauber driver Nick Heidfeld in the season-ending race at the new Yas Marina circuit.
Speaking after the race, Vettel said: "(Hamilton) had to retire and up to then it was a great race," Vettel said. "After that I had a cushion to Mark and Jenson behind and was able to pace myself. The car was fantastic.
"It's a perfect day, to finish the season on a high."
Toyota driver Kamui Kobayashi, filling in for the injured Timo Glock, was sixth and earned his first F1 points, finishing ahead of teammate Jarno Trulli and Toro Rosso's Sebastien Buemi. BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica was eighth.
Hamilton was expected to dominate the race after a strong qualifying performance, but soon began to struggle with malfunctioning brakes and could not break away from the pursuing Red Bulls. Soon after the first pit stop, he was forced to retire.
"I was locking and locking and locking - it was harder than ever to drive the car," Hamilton said.
"It's a shame as the car felt so good this last couple of days, but we haven't had many brake problems this year, so there you go."
Hamilton was one of only two cars not to finish the race, along with Toro Rosso's Jaime Alguersuari after an embarrassing pit stop mishap.
His crew was not out for his stop, and he mistakenly stopped at the waiting Red Bull pit crew - which has very similar colors. They waved him on and he was forced to retire soon after.
with inputs from AP
ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX: RACE RESULT (after 55 laps):
1 S.Vettel Red Bull 1:34:03.414
2 M.Webber Red Bull +17.857
3 J.Button Brawn GP +18.467
4 R.Barrichello Brawn GP +22.735
5 N.Heidfeld BMW Sauber +26.253
6 K. Kobayashi Toyota +28.343
7 J.Trulli Toyota +34.366
8 S.Buemi Toro Rosso +41.294
9 N.Rosberg Williams +45.941
10 R.Kubica BMW Sauber +48.180
11 H.Kovalainen McLaren +52.798
12 K.Raikkonen Ferrari +54.317
13 K.Nakajima Williams +59.839
14 F.Alonso Renault +69.687
15 V.Liuzzi Force India +94.450
16 G.Fisichella Ferrari +1 LAP
17 A.Sutil Force India +1 LAP
18 R. Grosjean Renault +1 LAP
J.Alguersuari Toro Rosso Retired
L.Hamilton McLaren Retired
Vettel takes the chequered flag at the Yas Marina Circuit for what was a comfortable win
Red Bull Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany celebrates on the podium after winning the Japanese F1 Grand Prix in Suzuka earlier this month.
Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel in action at the Yas Marina Circuit
Lewis Hamilton had to retire on Lap 21 after encountering problems with his brakes
Source: Gulfnews
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