Vettel wins as Hamilton drops out

**Reverend** · November 3rd, 2009, 22:10 PM

Sebastian Vettel cruised to victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ahead of Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber after Lewis Hamilton was forced to retire early.

The McLaren pole-winner had to stop on lap 20 with a brake problem after which Germany's Vettel romped home with ease in Formula 1's first twilight race.

New world champion Jenson Button launched an attack on Webber late on but had to settle for third. His Brawn team-mate Rubens Barrichello was fourth at the new Yas Marina track.

The veteran Brazilian never threatened to make up the three points he needed to overhaul Vettel in the final drivers' standings and the 37-year-old must settle for third place after a season in which he occasionally looked like a potential world champion.

BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld came fifth in Abu Dhabi ahead of Toyota's rookie Kamui Kobayashi, while the Japanese's team-mate Jarno Trulli was seventh with Toro Rosso's Sebastien Buemi eighth.

Vettel recorded the fourth win of his hugely-promising season and it was also the fourth time Red Bull scored a one-two this year.

The last grand prix of 2009 was a largely uneventful race held at the spectacular and well-received new Yas Marina circuit, in which the Abu Dhabi government has invested huge amounts of money.

It was expected that Englishman Hamilton would cruise to victory after a storming performance in qualifying on Saturday in a McLaren car which he said had not been better all season.

But Hamilton was struggling with rear brake problems from the start and he was never able to get away from the chasing Vettel.

The German leapfrogged into the lead after making his first pit stop two laps later than the McLaren, and Hamilton was called into the pits to retire just a lap later.

"I was locking and locking and locking it was harder than ever to drive the car," Hamilton told BBC Sport.

"It's a shame as the car felt so good these last couple of days, but we haven't had many brake problems this year so there you go.

"But I still think the whole team should be really proud of how we have recovered this season."

Vettel dominated from then on, and the race only really lit up with Webber and Button's last-lap duel.

"We had a very good launch and I was close to out-accelerating Lewis, but he disappeared into the distance with his Kers [energy-boost button]," said Vettel.

"But I was able to stay close enough and we knew we were a little bit heavier and I was always catching up in the last sector. That was the secret.

"After he retired I had a little bit of a cushion and was able to pace myself… but the car was brilliant. A pleasure to sit in it. It's a shame the season ends now but it's a perfect day to finish it on a high."

Webber said: "We had a bit of a short fill (at the first stop), so JB could do a good few laps and make up the gap. I thought it was going to be tight at the end.

"We had a good clean fight, on the limit for the two big (braking) stops."

Button added: "It was a fun race. I thought I could pull it off, but Mark is always a difficult person to overtake. It was clean, but on the edge.

"Today has been a bonus after winning the championship in Brazil. A podium is a nice way to end the year."

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Result:
1. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Red Bull-Renault
2. Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull-Renault
3. Jenson Button (GB) Brawn-Mercedes
4. Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Brawn-Mercedes
5. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber
6. Kamui Kobayashi (Jpn) Toyota
7. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota
8. Sebastien Buemi (Swi) Toro Rosso-Ferrari

Final Championship Standings:
1. Jenson Button (GB) Brawn-Mercedes 95 pts
2. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Red Bull-Renault 84
3. Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Brawn-Mercedes 77
4. Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull-Renault 69.5
5. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes 49
6. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 48
7. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams-Toyota 34.5
8. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 32.5

Constructors' Championship:
1. Brawn-Mercedes 172 pts
2. Red Bull-Renault 153.5
3. McLaren-Mercedes 71
4. Ferrari 70
5. Toyota 59.5

BBC Sport

**cash_site** · November 4th, 2009, 04:35 AM

I wonder how next season is going to go with the whole new swag of rule changes, especially engines and lack of refueling! :~)

Hopefully Ferrari find a couple of loop holes... but I'm not a fanboi

Well done Button, good finish to a good year.

November 3rd, 2009, 22:10 PM	#1
Reverend Head Honcho Administrator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: England Posts: 10,934	Vettel wins as Hamilton drops out Sebastian Vettel cruised to victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ahead of Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber after Lewis Hamilton was forced to retire early. The McLaren pole-winner had to stop on lap 20 with a brake problem after which Germany's Vettel romped home with ease in Formula 1's first twilight race. New world champion Jenson Button launched an attack on Webber late on but had to settle for third. His Brawn team-mate Rubens Barrichello was fourth at the new Yas Marina track. The veteran Brazilian never threatened to make up the three points he needed to overhaul Vettel in the final drivers' standings and the 37-year-old must settle for third place after a season in which he occasionally looked like a potential world champion. BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld came fifth in Abu Dhabi ahead of Toyota's rookie Kamui Kobayashi, while the Japanese's team-mate Jarno Trulli was seventh with Toro Rosso's Sebastien Buemi eighth. Vettel recorded the fourth win of his hugely-promising season and it was also the fourth time Red Bull scored a one-two this year. The last grand prix of 2009 was a largely uneventful race held at the spectacular and well-received new Yas Marina circuit, in which the Abu Dhabi government has invested huge amounts of money. It was expected that Englishman Hamilton would cruise to victory after a storming performance in qualifying on Saturday in a McLaren car which he said had not been better all season. But Hamilton was struggling with rear brake problems from the start and he was never able to get away from the chasing Vettel. The German leapfrogged into the lead after making his first pit stop two laps later than the McLaren, and Hamilton was called into the pits to retire just a lap later. "I was locking and locking and locking it was harder than ever to drive the car," Hamilton told BBC Sport. "It's a shame as the car felt so good these last couple of days, but we haven't had many brake problems this year so there you go. "But I still think the whole team should be really proud of how we have recovered this season." Vettel dominated from then on, and the race only really lit up with Webber and Button's last-lap duel. "We had a very good launch and I was close to out-accelerating Lewis, but he disappeared into the distance with his Kers [energy-boost button]," said Vettel. "But I was able to stay close enough and we knew we were a little bit heavier and I was always catching up in the last sector. That was the secret. "After he retired I had a little bit of a cushion and was able to pace myself… but the car was brilliant. A pleasure to sit in it. It's a shame the season ends now but it's a perfect day to finish it on a high." Webber said: "We had a bit of a short fill (at the first stop), so JB could do a good few laps and make up the gap. I thought it was going to be tight at the end. "We had a good clean fight, on the limit for the two big (braking) stops." Button added: "It was a fun race. I thought I could pull it off, but Mark is always a difficult person to overtake. It was clean, but on the edge. "Today has been a bonus after winning the championship in Brazil. A podium is a nice way to end the year." Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Result: 1. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Red Bull-Renault 2. Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull-Renault 3. Jenson Button (GB) Brawn-Mercedes 4. Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Brawn-Mercedes 5. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 6. Kamui Kobayashi (Jpn) Toyota 7. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 8. Sebastien Buemi (Swi) Toro Rosso-Ferrari Final Championship Standings: 1. Jenson Button (GB) Brawn-Mercedes 95 pts 2. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Red Bull-Renault 84 3. Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Brawn-Mercedes 77 4. Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull-Renault 69.5 5. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes 49 6. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 48 7. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams-Toyota 34.5 8. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 32.5 Constructors' Championship: 1. Brawn-Mercedes 172 pts 2. Red Bull-Renault 153.5 3. McLaren-Mercedes 71 4. Ferrari 70 5. Toyota 59.5 BBC Sport __________________ =========== Please Read The Forum Rules ===========

November 4th, 2009, 04:35 AM	#2
cash_site Security Intelligence TZ Veteran Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Software Paradise Posts: 4,210	I wonder how next season is going to go with the whole new swag of rule changes, especially engines and lack of refueling! :~) Hopefully Ferrari find a couple of loop holes... but I'm not a fanboi Well done Button, good finish to a good year. __________________ --- 0wN3D by 3gG ---

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