Abu Dhabi GP 2009: Vettel Wins Final Race Of Season
Sebastian Vettel clinched the final race win of the season in a thrilling evening race in Abu Dhabi.
It was the emirates first ever F1 Grand Prix, and I think I am one of many who will be heaping praise on the new Yas Marina Circuit, its fantastic facilities, near perfect track and brilliant conditions led to a terrific weekend to cap off the 2009 season.
Vettel’s team mate Mark Webber came in 2nd place, holding off a real late surge from World Champion Jenson Button who tried everything to get passed the Australian but couldn’t so had to settle for 3rd place.
In truth, Lewis Hamilton should really have been in first or at least on the podium, but reliability struggles hit the out-going World Champ, his brakes failing and the McLaren mechanics not willing to keep a potentially dangerous car out on track.
Button had a slight embarrasing moment when star rookie Kamui Kobayashi pulled off some epic overtaking to put his Toyota ahead of the Brawn car during the first stint, the Japanese going on to finish 6th and almost certainly securing himself a 2010 drive with Toyota.
Rubens Barrichello missed out on the runner up spot, and in potentially his final race with Brawn GP finished in 4th, having to hold off massive pressure from Nick Heidfeld who tried to give BMW their best send off possible.
Yesterday’s birthday-bo Sebastien Buemi cleaned up with the final points as some big names finished well down the table, with Heikki Kovalainen finishing 11th, Raikkonen 12th and Fernando Alonso 14th.
Giancarlo Fisichella had a poor send off in potentially his final Grand Prix, getting a drive-through penalty and ending the day down in 16th.
Look out for The F1Fanatics Blog Official 2009 Season Review soon!
Pos Driver Team Time 1. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1h34:03.314 2. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) + 17.857 3. Button Brawn-Mercedes (B) + 18.467 4. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes (B) + 22.735 5. Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) + 26.253 6. Kobayashi Toyota (B) + 28.343 7. Trulli Toyota (B) + 34.366 8. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) + 41.294 9. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) + 45.941 10. Kubica BMW Sauber (B) + 48.180 11. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) + 52.798 12. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) + 54.317 13. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) + 59.839 14. Alonso Renault (B) + 1:09.687 15. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes (B) + 1:34.450 16. Grosjean Renault (B) + 1 lap 17. Fisichella Ferrari (B) + 1 lap 18. Sutil Force India-Mercedes (B) + 1 lap
Yas Marina Circuit Draws Praise From The Drivers
After some 3 hours drive time, the new Yas Marina circuit in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi has drawn the plaudits from the drivers.
The circuit is one of the most exciting new projects to hit the F1 calendar, and its proving a firm favourite with the fans too if Twitter and Facebook comments are to be believed. Its sweeping, fast nature but some hard corners are showing that the race could be very close indeed.
The Hermann Tilke design bandwagon has certainly got back on track here.
Nico Rosberg commented; “There is no criticism. I think they have done a very good job. It is an interesting track and every corner is unique.”
Former World Champion Fernando Alonso added to Rosberg’s praise “There are some good parts of the track, like the first sector, high-speed corners, and then the last sector is a combination of very similar corners – always 90 degrees. But you enjoy it because there is always something to do on the track. There is no time to breathe.”
Adrian Sutil also praised the lighting system, commenting it felt more like a night race than Singapore.
However the tunnel exit to the pitlane is causing some controversy, with near misses and concern over an accident becoming more apparent. Ferrari driver Giancarlo Fisichella said on the subject;
“It is very difficult and a little bit dangerous. If there is an accident with two cars, I don’t know if there is a space to go through. I guess we will see if there is an incident.”
I must say, representing The F1Fanatics Blog I think it’s a terrific circuit, finally a decent new track. It is like Valencia, or at least how Valencia should have been. It makes Singapore look almost amateur, and with the cool evening daylight/nightime effect I think F1 is on to a winner.
Electronic advertising boards above the main F1 straight
The controversial pit exit tunnel
Nightscene 1
Nightscene 2
Abu Dhabi GP 2009: McLaren Dominate FP2
Heikki Kovalainen showed his best sign yet of trying to cling with both hands to his McLaren seat for 2010 with a startling performance in FP2 on the new Abu Dhabi F1 circuit.
The Finn was some 2 tenths faster than team mate Lewis Hamilton as the chrome McLaren’s dominated the second practice session.
Kimi Raikkonen gained some hope for Ferrari with 10th, while Robert Kubica’s day ended with flames as his BMW engine gave up.
Pos Driver Team Time Laps 1. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:41.307 35 2. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:41.504 + 0.197 34 3. Button Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:41.541 + 0.234 39 4. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:41.591 + 0.284 37 5. Kobayashi Toyota (B) 1:41.636 + 0.329 34 6. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:41.683 + 0.376 37 7. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:41.684 + 0.377 34 8. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:41.831 + 0.524 38 9. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:41.931 + 0.624 39 10. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:41.987 + 0.680 39 11. Sutil Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:42.180 + 0.873 28 12. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:42.245 + 0.938 36 13. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (B) 1:42.278 + 0.971 36 14. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:42.409 + 1.102 30 15. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:42.530 + 1.223 33 16. Alonso Renault (B) 1:42.782 + 1.475 29 17. Fisichella Ferrari (B) 1:42.932 + 1.625 37 18. Grosjean Renault (B) 1:43.021 + 1.714 37 19. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:43.022 + 1.715 39 20. Kubica BMW-Sauber (B) 1:43.708 + 2.401 13
Abu Dhabi GP 2009: Hamilton Fastest In FP1
Lewis Hamilton got off to a flying start at the first ever Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina circuit, topping the timesheets just ahead of potential new team mate Jenson Button.
Vettel and Barrichello were also strong as they fight it out for 2nd place in the title standings.
Pos Driver Team Time Laps 1. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:43.939 18 2. Button Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:44.035 + 0.096 20 3. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:44.153 + 0.214 28 4. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:44.207 + 0.268 23 5. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (B) 1:44.667 + 0.728 23 6. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:44.687 + 0.748 32 7. Sutil Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:44.688 + 0.749 14 8. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:44.805 + 0.866 25 09. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:44.955 + 1.016 33 10. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:44.958 + 1.019 25 11. Kubica BMW-Sauber (B) 1:44.988 + 1.049 22 12. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:45.123 + 1.184 20 13. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:45.649 + 1.710 27 14. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:45.679 + 1.740 25 15. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:45.704 + 1.765 27 16. Alonso Renault (B) 1:45.865 + 1.926 23 17. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:46.239 + 2.300 22 18. Fisichella Ferrari (B) 1:46.267 + 2.328 26 19. Kobayashi Toyota (B) 1:46.364 + 2.425 28 20. Grosjean Renault (B) 1:46.411 + 2.472 27
