GP ABU DHABI F1/2015 – 29/11/15
Abu Dhabi, November 29, 2015 – Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg has clinched his third consecutive win of the season, after dominating the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from pole. The German adopted a two-stop strategy, like the vast majority of competitors, using a supersoft-soft-soft strategy. With Rosberg making his pit stops before his team mate Lewis Hamilton (on an identical strategy, but with a very long second stint) he was effectively in control of the tactics, ensuring his lead. The Mercedes team have now sealed a record-breaking 12 one-two finishes in 2015 – surpassing the teams’ 2014 benchmark. With 703 World Constructors’ Championship points, they have also exceeded their 2014 total – without the boost of double points at the season finale.
Both Mercedes were threatened however by Ferrari. Kimi Raikkonen finished on the podium from third on the grid while an alternative strategy allowed Sebastian Vettel to take fourth place after starting from 15th on the grid. Vettel completed two opening stints on the soft, gaining track position while all the supersoft runners stopped, before completing his own supersoft stint for 16 laps at the end of the race, in cooler track temperatures and with a much lighter car. Lotus driver Romain Grosjean also finished in the points after starting on the soft tyre.
The top 10 all used a two-stop strategy. Wear and degradation were within limits, to the point where even Lewis Hamilton – chasing his team mate for victory – questioned on team radio whether or not he needed to make a second stop at all. Then he made the pit stop, after a 30-lap middle stint on the soft tyres.
The highest-placed three-stopper was Max Verstappen, who finished outside the points following a flat-spot earlier in the race and then a penalty.
A one-two for Mercedes has broken another record for the ultra-successful German team: it is now the team to have scored most points in a Formula One season.
See some of the action here from #?AbuDhabiGP? #YasMarinaCircuit
https://www.facebook.com/yasmarinacircuit/videos/vb.355083163166/10153399649553167/
Nico Rosberg –This is the perfect ending to the season for me – something I hoped for so much after a tough year. To finish with six poles and three wins in a row is awesome. I am so happy that I found some performance at the end of the season. I also made my peace with this track after the toughest moment of my career here last year, which is a nice feeling. Today was really a perfect race. The start, the pit stops and the tyre management were all really good and I felt like I had it all under control. Thanks so much to my team for this amazing Silver Arrow – everyone at the factories and the track has done such an incredible job all year. I would love to start the 2016 season tomorrow – but I know that´s not possible. It’s strange, I’m enjoying the moment so much – but I’m thinking already very much of next year what I could change and where I can improve. We will all now have a well-deserved break with our families and I look forward to spending some more time with my wife and my little daughter.
Lewis Hamilton 2nd –That was a very difficult race. My tyres were done at the end of the first stint sitting behind Nico. The second stint was very good – but I don’t really know what happened strategy-wise at the end. I haven’t finished the season as strongly as I started it – but what an incredible year it’s been. This team has done a remarkable job, so a big thank you to everyone back at the factories. I wouldn’t be standing here as World Champion without them. I’ll go away now for the winter aiming to come back stronger, fitter and straight on top of our new car for 2016.
Kimi Raikkonen-3rd “It has been a nice and clean weekend, the car was handling well and we had no issues. In the race I was pretty happy with the speed and everything ran smoothly . We only had a small delay in the pit stops, which dropped us off a bit and we did not manage to really challenge the Mercedes. I think today we could have been closer, but third place here is an OK result, even if we always want to win and challenge for that. If we think where we were last year, there has been a really good effort from all the guys in the team. We have been pretty satisfied with the car all year long and the results have got better. Next year there is a new challenge and a new car: I think we have to keep doing the same things we did this year, improving consistently and working as one team, following the progress we did this year. Nobody knows what will happen next year and it’s too early to start guessing. We can only do our best and then we’ll see what the others do. Only time will tell.”
