Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: One of my best races says Hamilton

Vettel spins off, Briton claims 3rd win of the season.

ABU DHABI: Former world champion Lewis Hamilton benefitted from a first-lap disaster for Sebastian Vettel, who spun off the track after a right rear puncture, to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and termed it one of the best wins of his career.

Hamilton, who was edged out by a last-ditch Vettel burst for pole on Saturday evening, dominated from the second corner of the opening lap to claim just his third win of a troubled season and the 17th of his career.

Two-time champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso came home second for Ferrari, wiping away some of the memories of a nightmare race in 2010 when his title challenge was wrecked by strategic mistakes. Briton Jenson Button in the second McLaren fought through to finish third ahead of Vettel’s Red Bull teammate Australian Mark Webber and fifth-placed Brazilian Felipe Massa in the second Ferrari.

“It would’ve been close if Vettel hadn’t gone off as he had already established a pretty good gap after turn one,” said Hamilton after his win. “But this was one of my best races and I didn’t feel like I made even a single mistake in the race.”

Alonso, who started fifth on the grid, moved up to second by lap two, benefitting from a risky braking move on the opening lap and then the slipstream to overtake Button. Despite four podiums in the last six races, Alonso, with a solitary win this season, looked a satisfied man, opting to plan ahead for next year instead of focussing on a rather lacklustre season.

“I didn’t get the best of starts [despite moving up three places] but I’m happy to finish on the podium,” he said. “It’s been a good year for the team but I’m looking forward to Brazil and then planning for next year as soon as possible. We’ve made a lot of improvements from last year but we’ve had just one win and that poses a big challenge for us going into 2012.”

Meanwhile, Vettel, who has already won this year’s championship for the second year running, was at a loss explaining his retirement following a blistering qualifying lap that had forced Hamilton off pole position just a day earlier.

“At the exit of the first corner, everything seemed fine. When I turned in, I tried to catch the car but couldn’t do it and spun off,” said Vettel. “On the way back I damaged the suspension really badly. I don’t know what happened. It’s tough, but I used the opportunity to learn a bit on the pit wall.” WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING FROM AFP

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th,  2011.