Albon: Abu Dhabi GP was compromised by trying to beat Vettel

  • Published on 04 Dec 2019 11:12
  • comments 0
  • By: Dieter Rencken & Fergal Walsh

Alexander Albon says his race in Abu Dhabi was compromised by Red Bull's determination to finish ahead of Sebastian Vettel.

On lap 12, Vettel pitted ahead of Albon for fresh tyres, however Red Bull opted to keep Albon out for another lap in the hope that Vettel lost time in the traffic.

However, this didn't work and Albon emerged behind Vettel - despite a slow stop for Vettel, as Ferrari double-stacked both of its cars.

Albon committed to a one-stop race while Vettel pitted for a second time for the medium compound, which allowed him to close up onto Albon and overtake him on the penultimate lap of the race. 

"I think I need to have a look at it but from what I understood from driving, we were trying to get Seb on the overcut and we didn't," Albon said of the first pit stop phase.

"I think Seb got past the cars quicker than we expected so, we pretty much compromised the rest of our race trying to get Seb and we stayed out because the tyres weren't actually too bad.

"Pitting that early and doing such a long stint with those tyres wasn't easy and we came out in traffic so we spent ten laps behind."

Albon admits frustration with the balance of his car through some of the corners, which he hopes to work on when he tests on Wednesday at the circuit. 

"The tyres were very good before I made the stop so it felt like a waste of tyres," he said. "Seb pitted in front, I think we were struggling in that middle stint and then came back at me in the end, so a bit frustrating to be honest.

"I think it's just these 90-degree corners, like in Sochi we struggled a bit with the setup of the car. We have got some testing to do on Tuesday so we will work on that and see if we can get a better idea going into next year."

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 1,480
  • Podiums 56
  • Grand Prix 161
  • Country DE
  • Date of b. Jul 3 1987 (37)
  • Place of b. Heppenheim, DE
  • Weight 62 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar