Seventh heaven for Vettel at Abu Dhabi GP
Red Bull’s world champion makes it seven wins in a row.
Sebastian Vettel can equal compatriot Michael Schumacher’s overall record of 13 wins in a campaign if he lands the final two races of the season. PHOTO: AFP
ABU DHABI:
Quadruple Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel eased to victory in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix yesterday for his seventh successive victory and 11th of the season.
The 26-year-old German led home a Red Bull 1-2 – the 15th time in Formula One and giving them their 100th podium finish – with Australian Mark Webber second, taking him to over 1,000 points in his Formula One career which comes to an end at the end of the season.
German Nico Rosberg was third in a Mercedes.
Vettel’s win drew him level with compatriot Michael Schumacher’s mark of seven successive wins (2004) and should he win the last two races of the season he will equal the overall record of nine held by Alberto Ascari (1952/53).
The German was ecstatic at his victory especially as it came in front of his parents.
“I have spent most of my life racing in front of them (his parents) as a kid, the toys are a bit bigger now, but I am so pleased they are here to see me today,” he said.
“They taught me lots of good things and one day I want to pass that on to my children if I have them. So I dedicate this victory to them.”
Webber content with end result
Webber said he was content with his end result.
“The start wasn’t great and Nico got an unbelievable start,” said the 37-year-old. “I had to battle with Nico for second. I would have liked the win, but I matched my best result here.”
Rosberg said that Mercedes had achieved its objective for the weekend.
“I am happy, third place was good,” said Rosberg. “The plan for the weekend was to be the best of the rest behind Red Bull and we achieved that. It could have been second on another day, but it didn’t quite work out.
“The most important thing is to finish second in the constructor’s’ championship not only financially, but also motivationally for the team to see that we have the second best car.”
Once again, as he did in India last Sunday when he sealed his fourth title, Vettel threw his Red Bull car into a series of ‘doughnut’ pirouettes on the circuit to delight the crowd. A week previously, he had been reprimanded and fined for his celebrations.
“I think Sebastian can pay the fine this week,” said team chief Christian Horner. “That was a champion’s drive.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 4th, 2013.
Quadruple Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel eased to victory in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix yesterday for his seventh successive victory and 11th of the season.
The 26-year-old German led home a Red Bull 1-2 – the 15th time in Formula One and giving them their 100th podium finish – with Australian Mark Webber second, taking him to over 1,000 points in his Formula One career which comes to an end at the end of the season.
German Nico Rosberg was third in a Mercedes.
Vettel’s win drew him level with compatriot Michael Schumacher’s mark of seven successive wins (2004) and should he win the last two races of the season he will equal the overall record of nine held by Alberto Ascari (1952/53).
The German was ecstatic at his victory especially as it came in front of his parents.
“I have spent most of my life racing in front of them (his parents) as a kid, the toys are a bit bigger now, but I am so pleased they are here to see me today,” he said.
“They taught me lots of good things and one day I want to pass that on to my children if I have them. So I dedicate this victory to them.”
Webber content with end result
Webber said he was content with his end result.
“The start wasn’t great and Nico got an unbelievable start,” said the 37-year-old. “I had to battle with Nico for second. I would have liked the win, but I matched my best result here.”
Rosberg said that Mercedes had achieved its objective for the weekend.
“I am happy, third place was good,” said Rosberg. “The plan for the weekend was to be the best of the rest behind Red Bull and we achieved that. It could have been second on another day, but it didn’t quite work out.
“The most important thing is to finish second in the constructor’s’ championship not only financially, but also motivationally for the team to see that we have the second best car.”
Once again, as he did in India last Sunday when he sealed his fourth title, Vettel threw his Red Bull car into a series of ‘doughnut’ pirouettes on the circuit to delight the crowd. A week previously, he had been reprimanded and fined for his celebrations.
“I think Sebastian can pay the fine this week,” said team chief Christian Horner. “That was a champion’s drive.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 4th, 2013.