1
Sebastian Vettel admits that he had a very lonely Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as Mercedes dominated proceedings in the desert. In qualifying, it was clear Mercedes had a pace advantage over Ferrari as Vettel was out-qualified by over half a second.
In the race, the German failed to put a challenge to the Silver Arrows, who streaked away in the early stages. At the end of the Grand Prix, race-winner Valtteri Bottas crossed the line over 20 seconds ahead of Vettel, who settled for third place.
"In the beginning I tried very hard, I think I had a good start but [there was] nowhere to go," he said. "I locked up and flat-spotted the first set of tyres a tiny bit. Then after three, four, five laps I just couldn't go any faster and they seemed to pull away and from there onwards it was a bit lonely.
"But after that, I have to say in the second stint I really got into the rhythm and I think we had stronger pace in the second half of the race but not good enough to match those two guys."
Vettel was in the championship hunt for much of the season but a series of mishaps in Singapore, Malaysia and Japan saw him drop out of contention, with Lewis Hamilton wrapping up the title in Mexico. Vettel stated that the Briton deserved to win the championship.
"As to Valtteri, I'm very happy for him, and again, very much congratulations to Lewis for this season," he added. "He deserved to win the championship this season and, I hate to say it, he was the better man. So, I'm sure we'll do our bit over the winter and hopefully come back stronger."
Fergal Walsh
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
United Arab Emirates
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
134,380 comments on Sauber
2 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Valtteri Bottas
615,688 comments on Mercedes 57 members have this team as their favourite Tweets about Mercedes
Replies (1)
Login to replyf1fan0101
Posts: 1,804
Ferrari were very slow today..