1
Sebastian Vettel says that he did all he could during the latter stages of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to close down rival Lewis Hamilton for the lead of the race.
Vettel crossed the line in second place after getting past Valtteri Bottas on lap 35. Bottas made a mistake in the first sector which allowed Vettel to close in and set up an overtake. He then commenced the challenge of closing in on the seven-second gap to Hamilton in front.
The German decreased the gap by a small margin each lap, but it wasn't enough to put the five-time world champion under pressure: “Lewis is the champion and he deserves to be the champion,” he said following the chequered flag. "It has been a tough year.
“I tried everything to the last lap, catching little by little but he controlled the pace at the front. I would have liked it to be a bit more wheel-to-wheel. A long year, a lot of races. I will try, we will try, the whole team, to come back stronger and give him a harder run into next year.”
Vettel also offered words to Fernando Alonso, who will not be racing in Formula 1 next year: "Well done to Fernando, these last years have been very tough for him, we have missed him and we will be missing him. Well done on his career,” Vettel said.
Vettel won just one Grand Prix in the second half of the year, which came immediately after the summer break in Belgium. Across the season, the German won five races, and saw his championship challenge fall away after the first stage of the year
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
185,441 comments on Aston Martin
78 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Fernando Alonso
Replies (1)
Login to replyblade
Posts: 341
Vettel has moments like this when you have to take your hat off and say - class. But he then has moments like Baku - this impetuous streak is going to hinder him unless he can fix it - hot and cold never beats steady and consistent.