BOTTAS WINS AD GP
ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX: Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, a number of world leaders, dignitaries and senior officials attended the final race of 2017 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi.
ABU DHABI: It was a Silver Arrows show at the iconic Yas Marina Circuit as Valtteri Bottas capped off his maiden season for Mercedes edging team-mate Lewis Hamilton by 3.8s to win his third Formula 1 victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix here on Sunday.
The Ferrari’s followed the Mercedes duo as Sebastian Vettel finished 15 seconds back from Hamilton to finish third, while his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen ended a further 26 seconds back to take fourth spot.
Max Verstappen completed the top five for Red Bull Racing with fellow driver Daniel Ricciardo retiring on lap 21 due to a hydraulic issue.
Capitalising on the pole position, Bottas retained his advantage off the line to lead from Hamilton early on, and held a two seconds edge through the opening stages before making his sole stop at the end of Lap 21.
Though the already crowned F1 champion Hamilton kept the pressure and pulled within a second in the ensuing laps and getting DRS to latch onto the back of Bottas, a mistake at Turn 17 saw him run wide, easing the pressure on the leader.
Then the Briton struggled to make inroads on Bottas and was away by 1.5 seconds for much of the closing stages. He had his moment though with six laps to go after his teammate made a mistake through the first chicane, but Bottas responded in the final sector and crossed the line to get out of the DRS range and sealed the win.
“I am happy to win today. The team did a great job. My thought is that I did everything I could to win this race. We had lots of problems this year, but grateful for the success. I could not be happier to end the season like this,” said Bottas after his victory.
“I had everything under control and I was managing the race. No issues. Lap by lap I managed to go quicker. Again, I want to say thanks to the team. Sometimes we don’t show emotions, but it does not mean we don’t have any. I have so much support from my family. It don’t show too much, but I have the emotions,” added the champion.
Four time world champion and the Abu Dhabi runner-up Hamilton was also all praise for his team-mate.
“Valterri did a great job this weekend and an exceptional job all year. We did mistakes sometimes but everything was exceptional this race. 1-2 for Mercedes is a strong win,” said the 32-year-old.
“We mean to continue next year. Going to next season will be back to business. The car was great. The balance was spot on. Unfortunately a great track, but it does not fit my car very well,” he added while disclosing that he pushed hard for a win.
“I am world champion but not used to be second. I gave everything I had. I gave everything. Thanks a lot to the team. They are incredible back there at the factory. And all the fans are fantastic here.”
Meanwhile, Vettel, who got his 99th career podium and his 13th of the season, rued missed opportunity.
“I finish third and on the podium. I had a good start, but then I could not go any faster and then I was pretty lonely. In the second sting I was in the rhythm. I am glad for Valterri. Congratulations to Lewis in the season. I hate to admit it but he was the best,” said the German.
Nico Hulkenberg ended sixth, lifting Renault ahead of Toro Rosso to sixth in the final constructor standings. Mexican Sergio Perez came home seventh ahead of his Force India teammate Esteban Ocon, while two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Mclaren Honda and Felipe Massa, in his last F1 race before retirement, for Williams completed the top ten.
LECLERC TRIUMPHS
Earlier, Charles Leclerc was crowned the 2017 Formula 2 champion when he produced a brilliant come-from-behind performance to win the final race of the 11-round series.
Starting the 22-lap sprint seventh on the grid, where the top eight from the feature race line up in reverse order, Leclerc picked his way through the field, claiming third place after 14 laps and second after 18. But it was a thrilling last-lap surge that carried him past race leader Alex Albon’s ART and on to his second sprint race victory of the season to add to the five he has taken in the longer feature races.
Dorian Boccolacci posted his first victory of 2017 in the final GP3 race of the eight-round season as Trident Racing completed a 1-2 finish on Sunday. ART Grand Prix’s George Russell is already a champion, but neither of Russell’s ART team-mates, Jack Aitken or Nirei Fukuzumi, could take any Sunday points, finishing eighth and 14th respectively, so Aitken it is who finishes in second place overall on 140 points.