Lewis Hamilton Secures Second Abu Dhabi Victory

Qualifying:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Time
1	63	Jules Bianchi		1:31.111
2	2	Lewis Hamilton		1:31.121
3	1	Sebastian Vettel		1:31.341
4	62	Dave Cassidy		1:31.467
5	28	Romain Grosjean		1:32.002
6	98	Salvatore Miccoli		1:32.042
7	99	Kevin Magnussen		1:32.301
8	21	Stoffel Vandoorne		1:32.442
9	29	Pastor Maldonado		1:32.476
10	5	Valtteri Bottas		1:32.603
11	30	Mike Rockenfeller		1:32.777
12	91	Max Verstappen		1:32.868
13	43	Sébastien Bourdais		1:33.047
14	90	Daniel Ricciardo		1:33.066
15	27	Nathan McKane		1:33.242
16	31	Rhys Davies		1:33.289
17	6	Ma Qinghua		1:33.424
18	66	Esteban Ocon		1:33.489
19	22	Johnny Cecotto Jr.		1:33.810
20	55	Artem Markelov		1:33.877
21	56	Bradley Dagnall		1:34.070
22	32	Daniel Melrose		1:34.244
23	67	Marcel Agyemang-Badu		1:34.437
24	42	Davide Valsecchi		1:34.573
25	12	Scott Dixon		1:34.589
26	11	Carlos Sainz Jr		1:34.606

* demoted five places for changing engine/gearbox

Report:

Regrettably, there is a specific kind of Formula 1 fan: the kind that watches every race hoping for a dramatic accident. Today, those fans were also pleased by the great entertainment this series provides in the Middle East. A 10-car incident, started by Australian veteran Daniel Melrose, made for impressive images and ruined some people’s day.

Outside of those events, the championship battle is still happening: Jules Bianchi had the advantage in qualifying, already making up two points on Vettel by achieving pole position. Regrettably, Lewis Hamilton proved superior in the race, thereby denying the French superstar his fourth victory of the season and three valueable points.

Sebastian Vettel looked like having the disadvantage against his two title rivals fighting for the win until the final stops, after which he had the advantage of fresher tyres. He worked hard to close down the gap to Bianchi, who had given up the battle against Hamilton for the win, and came close enough to attack, failing to get second however.

Behind them, Pastor Maldonado enjoyed another lonely race ending in an extremely valueable fourth place for Sauber, aiding in their quest to get past Ferrari in the championship: a quest helped by both Ferraris being a victim of the first lap incident. Mike Rockenfeller drove another good race, just like Artem Markelov did, the German trying to stay in F1,

Race:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Time/Retired	Points
1	2	Lewis Hamilton		46:16.078	15
2	63	Jules Bianchi		+8.556	14
3	1	Sebastian Vettel		+8.996	10
4	29	Pastor Maldonado		+33.683	8
5	21	Stoffel Vandoorne		+53.528	6
6	99	Kevin Magnussen		+54.882	5
7	30	Mike Rockenfeller		+55.538	4
8	90	Daniel Ricciardo		+57.776	3
9	55	Artem Markelov		+66.088	2
10	98	Salvatore Miccoli		+66.565	1
11	91	Max Verstappen		+69.225	0
12	22	Johnny Cecotto Jr.		+72.475	0
13	31	Rhys Davies		+79.589	0
14	43	Sébastien Bourdais		+87.848	0
15	67	Esteban Ocon		+91.645	0
16	6	Ma Qinghua		+94.563	0
17	5	Valtteri Bottas		+87.231	0
18	42	Davide Valsecchi		+1 Lap	0
19	11	Carlos Sainz Jr.		+1 Lap	0
20	66	Marcel Agyemang-Badu		+1 Lap	0
DNF	56	Bradley Dagnall		Oil Leak	0
DNF	62	Dave Cassidy		Transmission	0
DNF	27	Nathan McKane		Collision	0
DNF	32	Daniel Melrose		Collision	0
DNF	28	Romain Grosjean		Collision	0
DNF	12	Scott Dixon		Collision	0

Fastest Lap:

Sebastian Vettel – 1:31.870

Infinite Improbability Drive Of The Race:

Artem Markelov – once more proves to be a supreme paydriver, earning Mansell two points.

Reject Of The Race:

Daniel Melrose – caused a complete wipeout on lap one.