Markelov Chokes in Abu Dhabi, Stoneman Wins

Qualifying:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Q1	Q2	Diff.
1	18	Sebastian Vettel		1:40.266	1:40.085
2	6	Artem Markelov		1:40.581	1:40.147	+0.062
3	47	Lando Norris		1:40.548	1:40.221	+0.136
4	94	Pascal Wehrlein		1:40.322	1:40.541	+0.237
5	57	Dean Stoneman		1:40.798	1:40.386	+0.301
6	39	Sho Tsuboi		1:40.724	1:40.400	+0.315
7	7	Charles Leclerc		1:40.998	1:40.821	+0.736
8	23	Alexander Albon		1:41.213	1:40.867	+0.782
9	31	Esteban Ocon		1:40.953	1:41.220	+0.868
10	26	Robert Shwartzman		1:41.526	1:41.279	+1.194
11	33	Max Verstappen		1:41.749	1:41.295	+1.210
12	29	Roger Ibe		1:41.703	1:41.393	+1.308
13	77	Valtteri Bottas		1:41.551	1:41.626	+1.466
14	37	Kazuki Nakajima		1:42.130	1:41.803	+1.718
15	70	Sérgio Sette Câmara		1:42.486	1:42.000	+1.915
16	13	Pastor Maldonado		1:42.313	1:42.091	+2.006
17	84	Jack Aitken		1:42.607	1:42.436	+2.351
18	55	Carlos Sainz, Jr.		1:44.542	1:44.102	+4.017
19	23	Jules Bianchi		1:45.171	1:44.328	+4.243
20	4	Robin Frijns		1:45.050	1:44.807	+4.722
21	56	Einar Ármannsson		1:45.499	1:45.006	+4.921
22	99	Antonio Giovinazzi		1:45.286	1:45.202	+5.117
23	98	Bradley Dagnall		1:46.213	1:45.899	+5.814
24	10	Jarno Trulli		1:46.916	1:47.363	+6.831

Report:

Regardless of what happens in the next two weeks, Precision’s in-season development was historic, only surpassed by the great work at (BMW) Sauber in 2009 and 2012. Still, they have a shot at the driver’s title.

Another 1-2 finish almost opened the door, but an error would be needed to truly unlock the mechanism. Artem Markelov made that mistake, running out of track at the first chicane and crashing into the wall.

Beyond this shocking twist in the championship tale, there were other stories worth telling: Sho Tsuboi had his best result since Portland and both Williams and Toyota managed to put both of their cars in the top 10.

Pastor Maldonado came close to a point himself, but without it, it is all but confirmed that Sauber will finish this year in P9. That will be their worst result since 2010 (as BMW Sauber, 2005 as independent team).

Race:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Time/Retired	Points
1	57	Dean Stoneman		60:12.376	15
2	94	Pascal Wehrlein		+0.424	12
3	47	Lando Norris		+9.324	10
4	39	Sho Tsuboi		+17.901	8
5	7	Charles Leclerc		+19.484	6
6	23	Alexander Albon		+30.972	5
7	26	Robert Shwartzman		+34.822	4
8	77	Valtteri Bottas		+47.048	3
9	37	Kazuki Nakajima		+48.541	2
10	70	Sérgio Sette Câmara		+55.569	1
11	13	Pastor Maldonado		+74.048
12	29	Roger Ibe		+95.217
13	85	Jack Aitken		+99.697
14	55	Carlos Sainz, Jr.		1 Lap
15	19	Robin Frijns		1 Lap
16	99	Antonio Giovinazzi		1 Lap
17	23	Jules Bianchi		1 Lap
18	18	Sebastian Vettel		Accident
19	6	Artem Markelov		Accident
DNF	33	Max Verstappen		Accident
DNF	10	Jarno Trulli		Accident
DNF	98	Bradley Dagnall		Collision
DNF	14	Esteban Ocon		Collision
DNF	56	Einar Ármannsson		Collision

Fastest Lap:

Pascal Wehrlein – 1:42.841

Infinite Improbability Drive Of The Race:

Toyota – a great outing sees the Japanese manufacturer score their second double-points finish of the year.

Reject Of The Race:

Artem Markelov – driver error at the worst possible time may just have Markelov cost the world title.